Uganda Women’s National Football Team head coach Sheryl Botes has defended her decision to include several young players in the squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers against Ethiopia, emphasizing the importance of integrating them with the experienced players.
The Crested Cranes, who started their residential camp on February 9 at Cranes Paradise Hotel, Kisaasi, held their first training session on Monday at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.
Speaking after the session, Botes said the decision to bring in five U17 players; Martha Babirye, Doreen Aujat, Shadia Nabirye, Agnes Nabukenya, and Rinah Ariho, was aimed at giving them senior team exposure ahead of their own World Cup qualifiers against Kenya.
“Our first training session went well. We brought in a combination of senior players and younger ones because I want them to learn from the experienced players and start competing at this level,” Botes explained.
“Since it was the first training, they still have to bond and get used to playing with and against each other, but I see great potential.”
Among the young talents, Agnes Nabukenya has been a standout performer.
The forward grabbed headlines in January when she scored six goals in Uganda’s 10-0 demolition of Namibia in the first leg of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Botes believes training with the senior team will build the youngsters’ confidence and prepare them for higher levels of competition.
“This will teach them to have confidence and not be scared. It will make them better players, and they will learn and believe in themselves more,” she added.
The head coach also called on experienced players such as Viola Nambi, Resty Kobusobozi—the top scorer in the Finance Trust FUFA Women’s Super League—and Fazila Ikwaput to mentor the younger players in camp.
“For the older players like Viola, Resty, and Fazila, they have to be role models for the young ones,” Botes said.
Uganda is preparing to host Ethiopia in the first leg of the qualifiers on February 21 in Kampala before traveling to Addis Ababa for the return fixture on February 26.
The Crested Cranes are aiming to secure their third appearance at the WAFCON finals, having last qualified in 2022 when they exited in the group stage.
The team narrowly missed out on the 2024 edition after a 3-2 aggregate loss to Algeria in the qualifiers.
With training sessions ongoing, Botes is confident the blend of youth and experience will give Uganda the best chance of progressing.
