Uganda women’s national under-17 football team will begin their bid for a place in the next stage of qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup when they host Kenya women’s national under-17 football team on Friday in the first leg of the second round of the African qualifiers.
The match will take place at FUFA Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 4:00 PM local time as Uganda’s Teen Cranes seek to establish an advantage before the return leg in Nairobi.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations has confirmed that supporters will be admitted free of charge for the encounter, with home fans expected to turn out in significant numbers for one of the team’s most important fixtures of the campaign.
Uganda completed their final preparations on Thursday with a training session at the match venue as the squad focused on tactical work and refining key details ahead of the tie.
The session centred on improving organisation, match sharpness and overall understanding within the team as preparations intensified before the regional showdown.
Head coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes said she was pleased with the work completed by the squad and expressed confidence ahead of the game.
“We have worked on the key details to put the players in good shape. The atmosphere is positive,” Botes said.
The coach also acknowledged the familiarity between the two neighbouring sides and predicted a difficult contest against Kenya.
“It’s not our first time to play against Kenya, and we know what they are bringing. We know it’s going to be a competitive match, but our aim is to win,” she added.
The fixture represents a significant step in the qualification pathway for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, with both teams aiming to move closer to securing a place at the global tournament.
Uganda will hope home advantage can help provide a strong platform before the decisive second leg, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 30 May at Nyayo National Stadium.
The aggregate winner from the two matches will progress to the next round of African qualifying, where either South Africa women’s national under-17 football team or Tanzania women’s national under-17 football team await.
Friday’s encounter is also expected to renew a familiar East African rivalry, with both countries eager to strengthen their standing in women’s youth football on the continent.
For the Teen Cranes, the match provides an opportunity to continue their development while moving closer to a potential World Cup appearance.
Kenya, meanwhile, will arrive in Uganda seeking an away result that could shift the advantage ahead of the return fixture in Nairobi.
With qualification still finely balanced over two legs, both teams are expected to approach the opening match cautiously while recognising the importance of gaining an early edge in the contest.
Uganda’s preparations and the confidence expressed by their coach underline the significance attached to the fixture as the Teen Cranes attempt to take another step towards the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
