The Uganda U-17 Women’s National Team will have the chance to secure a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship when they face Zanzibar on Tuesday at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The Teen Cranes head into the Group B clash brimming with confidence after dismantling Djibouti 13-0 in their opening match, a result that placed them in a strong position to advance to the knockout stage.
A victory over Zanzibar would see Uganda join Kenya and hosts Tanzania, who became the first teams to book their places in the semi-finals on Monday after winning their opening two matches in Group A.
Kenya followed up their remarkable 16-0 victory over Sudan with a convincing 6-0 win against Somalia to seal qualification with a game to spare. Tanzania also maintained a perfect record, thrashing Sudan 10-0 to confirm their place in the last four.
With Group A already decided, attention now shifts to Group B where Uganda are among the favourites to progress after their dominant opening-day performance.
Head coach Sheryl Botes was encouraged by what she saw against Djibouti, particularly the improvements shown in areas the team had been working on following the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and a recent friendly against Ethiopia.
The Teen Cranes displayed attacking fluency throughout the match, with Shadia Nabirye scoring a hat-trick while Justine Ayerango and Immaculate Acen each netted twice. The result also provided a significant boost to Uganda’s goal difference, which could prove important in the race for qualification.
However, the coaching staff are expected to caution against complacency as they prepare for a Zanzibar side eager to keep their own qualification hopes alive.
Uganda know that another three points would not only secure a semi-final place but also strengthen their credentials as genuine contenders for the regional title.
The second Group B fixture on Tuesday will see Djibouti take on South Sudan as the battle for the remaining semi-final places gathers momentum.
For the Teen Cranes, the equation is simple: beat Zanzibar and join Kenya and Tanzania in the last four.
