Teen Cranes Aim for Revenge Against Kenya in U-17 WWC Qualifiers

Uganda’s U-17 girls’ football team, affectionately known as the Teen Cranes, are gearing up for a crucial doubleheader against Kenya in the second round of the 2026 Africa U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The first leg is scheduled to take place this Friday at the FUFA Stadium in Kadiba.

This encounter carries a weight of revenge for the Ugandan side, as they were convincingly defeated by Kenya 5-0 on aggregate at the same stage last year. Kenya, who participated in the 2024 U-17 WWC, enters this tie as the favorite.

Despite Kenya’s pedigree, the Teen Cranes express confidence in their ability to secure a victory. “We have great belief as a team that we can beat Kenya this year,” stated defender Ritah Nambuusi, who was part of the team last year. “The coaches have prepared us well, and we hope the fans can rally behind us.”

Coach Sheryl Botes is expected to implement a strategy focused on denying Kenya space, an approach informed by their recent U-20 World Cup qualifying campaign. “Like Ghana, Kenya wants space. But our goal for the Teen Cranes is to qualify for the World Cup,” Botes explained. She highlighted the team’s positive energy, emphasizing the contributions of skillful players like Brenda Nassaka and Justine Ayerango, alongside experienced defenders from the U-20 squad.

The aggregate winner of this tie will advance to the final qualification round, with four teams ultimately securing berths to the U-17 Women’s World Cup finals set to be held in Morocco later this year.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/soccer/teen-cranes-seek-revenge-against-kenya-5468568