Crested Cranes’ Olympic dream delayed again
The Copper Queens advanced 5-3 on aggregate after overturning a 2-1 first-leg defeat at Hamz Stadium last week.
Crested Cranes players during training. PHOTO: Ismail Mulangwa
2028 Olympic Games Women’s Africa Qualifiers
Zambia 4 Uganda 1 (Zambia win 5-3 on aggregate)
Uganda’s wait for a first appearance at the Olympic Games continues after the Crested Cranes were eliminated from the Los Angeles 2028 qualifiers following a 4-1 defeat to Zambia in Ndola on Tuesday.
The Copper Queens advanced 5-3 on aggregate after overturning a 2-1 first-leg defeat at Hamz Stadium last week.
Assistant head coach Collins Ahumuza blamed defensive mistakes and the team’s failure to contain Zambia’s attack for the defeat.
“We made costly mistakes at the back, and Zambia punished us. We tried to respond, but we struggled to control their attacking play,” Ahumuza said.
“It is disappointing to go out of the competition, but we must learn from this performance, improve our defending and work together to prepare better for future assignments,” she added.
At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Zambia started strongly, with Natasha Nanyangwe heading the hosts into the lead in the ninth minute from a corner.
Sylvia Kabene restored parity for Uganda after chasing a long ball and capitalising on a defensive mistake. However, the Crested Cranes failed to build on the equaliser as Enelesi Phiri restored Zambia’s lead in the 21st minute, finishing from close range after finding space on the left.
Uganda struggled to contain the hosts after the break, with Zambia captain Barbra Banda proving decisive. She scored in the 51st minute after capitalising on a defensive error and beating goalkeeper Edith Karungi before adding another late goal to complete her brace and seal the 4-1 victory.
The Crested Cranes’ recent results underline the need for greater consistency. At the June 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship, Uganda lost 2-0 to Tanzania and 4-0 to Kenya before beating South Sudan 5-0.
In the February 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers, Uganda beat Ethiopia 2-0 in the first leg but lost by the same score in the return match before being eliminated 5-4 on penalties. The team also lost 1-0 to Algeria in a friendly in November 2024.
Uganda will have other opportunities to improve through regional and continental competitions. The CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship is expected to return in 2027, while qualifying for the 2028 WAFCON is expected during the 2027–2028 period. The qualification campaign for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup is expected around 2029, while the next Olympic opportunity will be the Brisbane 2032 Games, with African qualifying expected around 2030–2031.
Meanwhile, Zambia will face Ghana in the next round after the West African side eliminated Mauritius 10-0 on aggregate.
South Africa also advanced after beating Madagascar 3-0 in the return leg to win 7-0 on aggregate. Nigeria defeated Comoros 5-0 to progress 7-0 overall, while Ethiopia drew 1-1 with Rwanda but advanced after winning the first leg 1-0. Malawi also progressed after eliminating Zimbabwe 7-0 on aggregate.