The Uganda Teen Cranes have stopped Kenya to qualify for the final of the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship.
Coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes’s team kept a 100% winning run in the competition seeing off Kenya 3-0 in the first semi-final played at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Shadia Nabirye gave Uganda the lead after only 6 minutes. The Kenyan defenders failed to clear out the ball giving Nabirye space to slot the ball past goalkeeper Mishel Ng’ono.
The Kenyan team tried to push forward, but the Ugandan defenders kept a close watch on Bakari Mwanakombo and Emily Mbuya. Immaculate Achen doubled Uganda’s lead after 40 minutes with another finish from close range.
After recess Kenya’s coach Mildred Omari Cheche made some changes that did not yield fruits. The Ugandan team continued to close out gaps giving the Kenyan team no space to reach the goal.
Three minutes into added time Kenya conceded an own goal by Jael Simiyu after a Ugandan corner kick.
“We are very happy to reach the final after winning all our three matches in the group stage and now the semi-final. The players all wan to face Tanzania in the final,” added Uganda’s coach Botes.
The win was a revenge for the Ugandan team was a revenge against Kenya who eliminated them in the third round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers last month.
The second semi-final match between hosts Tanzania and South Sudan will be played later this evening. The tournament will climax with the final on June 23rd.
