Teen Cranes fire warning shot with 13-0 thrashing of Djibouti
The Teen Cranes scored seven goals in the first half and added six more after the break, with Shadia Nabirye netting a hat-trick and Justine Ayerango scoring twice.
Uganda made a dominant start to the tournament on Sunday, producing a commanding attacking display to overwhelm Djibouti. (Courtesy Photos/FUFA)
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CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship 2026
Uganda 13 Djibouti 0
Tuesday (KMC Stadium)
Uganda U-17 women’s national team head coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes says the Teen Cranes’ emphatic 13-0 win over Djibouti has boosted the team’s confidence ahead of Tuesday’s CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship clash against Zanzibar.
Uganda made a dominant start to the tournament on Sunday, producing a commanding attacking display to overwhelm Djibouti.
The Teen Cranes scored seven goals in the first half and added six more after the break, with Shadia Nabirye netting a hat-trick and Justine Ayerango scoring twice.
Botes said the result has lifted morale within the squad but cautioned against complacency.
"The result against Djibouti has given the players confidence and motivation. It was important to start the tournament well, but now our focus is fully on the next game against Zanzibar," she said.
"We worked hard before the tournament, and it was encouraging to see the players applying what we have been training. The transitions were good, the movement was positive, and the attitude was excellent."
Despite the convincing win, Botes said there are still areas that require improvement as the competition progresses.
"We want to continue improving our possession and game management. Every match presents different challenges, and we must keep working hard to dominate games and maintain our standards."
Uganda go into Tuesday’s fixture as favourites following their opening win, but Botes expects Zanzibar to provide a tougher challenge.
She has urged her players to remain focused and not be distracted by the scoreline from their opening match.
"Football is about consistency. What happened on Sunday is behind us now. We respect Zanzibar and we know we must work hard again if we want another positive result."
The CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship offers Uganda an opportunity to rebuild confidence after their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification hopes ended last month following a goalless draw against Kenya in Nairobi.
Botes said the tournament is providing the young players with valuable experience and an opportunity to grow competitively.
"This competition is important for the growth of these players. Every game gives them a chance to learn, improve and prepare for bigger challenges in the future."
Uganda will target a second consecutive victory when they face Zanzibar on Tuesday before concluding their group-stage matches against South Sudan on Thursday.
Organised by the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), the tournament is designed to promote the development of women’s football in the region by giving young players international exposure and competitive experience.
The championship is among several competitions on the 2026 CECAFA calendar, which also includes the CECAFA Kagame Cup, CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers, CAF U-20 CECAFA qualifiers, CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers and CAF U-17 CECAFA qualifiers.