Uganda Women’s National Team head coach Sheryl Botes on Wednesday named a 39-player provisional squad for the upcoming WAFCON qualifiers, with a significant number of selections coming from the country’s school sports system.
This highlights the growing role of secondary school competitions in nurturing top football talent for the national team.
One of the standout inclusions is Rinah Ariho, who finished as the top scorer in the 2024 Elite Secondary Schools Games with eight goals in six matches.
The Boni Consili star also led her team to a U16 national title at the USSSA Ball Games II in Soroti and played a key role in their fifth-place finish at the Ball Games I in Ndejje.
Her performances earned her a well-deserved call-up to the senior women’s team, the Crested Cranes, alongside her school teammate Mackline Niwandinda.
The squad list is a testament to the impact of school competitions in developing future national team players.
Other school sports graduates in the squad include St. Noa Girls’ goalkeeper Lillian Nakirya, a FEASSA (Federation of East African Secondary Schools Association) winner, Agnes Nabukenya, who helped Kawempe Muslim to the 2024 National Schools Championship, and Resty Kobusobozi, the 2019 Fresh Dairy Games top scorer.
The high number of school-based players in the squad underscores the importance of structured school competitions such as the Elite Games, Fresh Dairy Games, and the USSSA Ball Games in identifying and refining young footballing talent.
These tournaments provide a platform for players to test themselves against the best in their age groups while gaining exposure to structured coaching and competitive environments.
The presence of young talent also points to the continued success of Uganda’s school football programs, which have been a consistent feeder system for both local clubs and the national team.
Over the years, Uganda has seen several school football products rise through the ranks to establish themselves on the national and international stage.
