With just days to go before their crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Qualifier against Ethiopia, the Crested Cranes have urged fans to come out in full support for the first leg on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.
Speaking at a press conference at FUFA headquarters in Mengo on Thursday morning, head coach Sheryl Botes emphasized the importance of home support in their quest for qualification.
“Your support can make a big difference in the team’s performance, so let’s get behind the Crested Cranes and cheer them on to victory,” Botes said. “We really need your support.”
Uganda is aiming for a return to Africa’s premier women’s football tournament, having last competed in the 2022 WAFCON Finals in Morocco.
During that campaign, the Crested Cranes finished third in Group A, which featured hosts Morocco, Senegal, and Burkina Faso, missing out on the knockout stage.
That appearance was only their second at the continental finals, the first having come in 2000.
Coach Botes and her squad are determined to improve on their 2023 WAFCON qualifying run, where they narrowly missed out on the 2024 tournament after a 3-2 aggregate loss to Algeria.
The Cranes fought hard in the return leg in Oran, securing a 1-1 draw but failing to overturn a 2-1 home defeat suffered in Njeru.
The upcoming two-legged tie against Ethiopia presents a fresh opportunity for Uganda to reclaim its place on the continental stage.
After hosting the first leg in Kampala, the Crested Cranes will travel to Addis Ababa for the return fixture on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
