Uganda’s Queen Cranes head coach Sheryl Botes has backed her side to overturn their 2-1 deficit against Ghana, insisting the team has both the belief and motivation to secure a historic FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualification.
Speaking after the first-leg defeat in Accra, Botes framed the result as part of a broader opportunity for Uganda to break new ground, highlighting the significance of the moment for her players.
“Well, I think it’s something they have never experienced before. I think this will be the greatest if not the best opportunity for the girls to qualify for the World Cup. I think Ghana has had it nine times and I believe there is always a first time,” said Botes.
Uganda had taken the lead through Agnes Nabukenya before conceding twice in the second half, but Botes pointed to the team’s application and mindset as a foundation to build on ahead of the return leg.
“If they want it bad enough which I thought today they wanted it bad enough. I’m expecting the same discipline, the same fighting spirit in the second league because this is something they all really badly want. At the end it’s all going to come down to the last leg,” she added.
The Queen Cranes will now prepare for the decisive second leg on home soil, needing a win to overturn the deficit and keep alive their hopes of reaching the tournament for the first time.
