Botes banks on CAF GIFT stars as teen Cranes prepare for Kenya

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Uganda’s U17 women’s football team coach, Sheryl Botes Ulanda, has named a provisional 32-player squad as preparations begin for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup second-round qualifier against Kenya.

The squad, which entered camp on Monday, February 24, is dominated by players from Boni Consilii Girls School, with 10 of its stars earning a call-up—more than any other school or club.

Boni Consilii Girls U16 players and staff joyful after winning the USSSA U16 national title that qualified them for the CAF tournament.(Photo by Aloysius Byamukama)

Botes' decision to include such a high number from the Isingiro-based school could be influenced by their performance at the CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) pilot project for the CECAFA region, held in January in Dar es Salaam.

Boni Consilii represented Uganda in the tournament and finished fourth after a 2-0 loss to Kenya’s Kenya Academy of Sport (KAS) in the third-place playoff.

Kenya fielded two teams—KAS and Kenya Elite Junior Academy—with the latter securing fifth place after a 4-0 victory over Burundi’s Aigle Noir.

Most of the players from these Kenyan teams were part of the national U17 squad that competed in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in October last year in the Dominican Republic. Kenya failed to progress beyond the group stage, losing 2-0 to England and 3-0 to eventual champions South Korea before beating Mexico 2-1 in Group C.

With this in mind, Botes appears to be banking on the experience of Boni Consilii’s players, who showed resilience against their Kenyan counterparts.

Defenders Ziida Ziida Asiimwe, Imurinde Ashanti, Evas Tusemereiwe, Mackline Nuwandinda, and Shabella Abahwera—who has just joined Makerere University—were particularly impressive in a losing effort.

Midfielders Esther Ainembabazi and Peace Airwoth complete the Boni Consilii contingent that played in Tanzania, while Loice Komugisha, Joan Namaulindwa Kiiza, and striker Rinah Ariho had remained behind and featured in Uganda’s dominant 18-1 aggregate win over Namibia in the previous round.

“We are impressed that the GIFT tournament has exposed these young players to catch the attention of the national team technical staff for the summons. We are very sure that even when we did not come back with the trophy, our girls got the much-needed exposure to help the national team progress past Kenya,” said team manager Primus Ngabirano.

Uganda will host Kenya in the first leg in Kampala on March 8 before traveling for the return leg in Kenya on March 16. Botes remains focused on guiding the Teen Cranes to history by securing Uganda’s first-ever qualification for a FIFA-organised event.

Teen Cranes provisional squad

Goalkeepers

Nabbosa Haira – Kawempe Muslim SS WFC

Namutebi Sharifah Kizito – Kampala Queens FC

Angudeyo Brenda – Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC

Tendo Jemimah Bynum – Rines SS WFC

Defenders

Babirye Martha – El Cambio

Nambuusi Ritah Anitah – Devine Soccer Academy

Assimwe Zidah – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Niwandinda Mackline – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Abahwera Shabella – Makerere University WFC

Katusiime Charity – Tagy WFC

Tushemerirwe Evas – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Mupyanga Halima – Rines SS WFC

Kainza Joyce – Amus College WFC

Imurinde Uwayo Ashanti – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Apetcho Elizabeth – Bukedea Comprehensive

Midfielders

Nalunkuuma Bushirah M. – Rines SS WFC

Namukabirye Shamirah – Rines SS WFC

Nandyowa Nusifah – Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC

Balinabyo Hadijah – Jinja City Queens FC

Ainemababazi Esther – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Asanyo Patience – El Cambio

Aujat Dorine – Amus College WFC

Namataka Mariam – Amus College WFC

Komugisha Loyce – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Ayerango Justine – Rines SS WFC

Namulindwa Joan Kizza – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Nabirye Shadia – Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC

Ayiorwoth Peace – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Forwards

Nabukenya Agnes – Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC

Ariho Rinah – Boni Consilii Girls FC

Ainemababazi Angel – Rines SS WFC

Nakintu Nusulah – Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC