The Crested Cranes’ aspirations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) were extinguished in a heart-wrenching defeat against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, leaving Ugandan fans in a state of disbelief.
The Ethiopian women’s national football team, known as the Lucy, delivered a steady performance on their home turf at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, overturning a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Kampala.
The result sends Uganda packing in the first round of the qualifiers, while Ethiopia advances to the final qualifying round.
Entering the second leg with a comfortable lead, Uganda appeared poised to secure their place in the next stage.
However, the Lucy, fueled by the home crowd and the tactical acumen of their coach Yosef Gebrewold, who had issued a pre-match warning to the Crested Cranes, displayed remarkable resilience and determination.
The first half, officiated by Nigerian FIFA referee Patience Madu, saw both teams battling fiercely, but neither side managed to break the deadlock, ending in a goalless stalemate.
The tension was palpable as the teams headed into the second half.
The turning point of the match arrived shortly after the restart when Uganda’s forward, Fazila Ikwaput, was shown a straight red card.
This pivotal moment dramatically shifted the momentum in favor of the hosts, leaving Uganda to defend with ten players.
Ethiopia seized the opportunity, capitalizing on their numerical advantage.
In the 66th minute, Young Princess forward Aregash Kalsa ignited the stadium with a crucial goal, narrowing the aggregate score to 2-1.
As the clock ticked down, Uganda fought valiantly to preserve their lead.
However, deep into stoppage time, substitute Estegnet Girma delivered a devastating blow, heading home a free kick to level the aggregate score at 2-2.
With the tie level, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout where Ethiopia emerged victorious, edging Uganda 5-4.
The victory propelled Ethiopia into the final qualifying round, where they will face the winner of the clash between Tanzania and former WAFCON champions Equatorial Guinea.
