Yasmeen Nalwoga joins Queen Cranes for U20 World Cup quest

FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers

Friday 19th (Kadiba Stadium)

Uganda v Namibia 4pm

Monday 22nd (Kadiba Stadium)

Namibia v Uganda 3pm

Winger Yasmeen Nalwoga, a rising star from Rines SS, earned her first call-up to the Uganda U20 Women’s National Team, the Queen Cranes, for the upcoming FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The 21-year-old is part of the squad that will face Namibia in a two-legged tie as Uganda seeks to make history by qualifying for the global showpiece for the very first time.

“I feel proud and ready to work hard to help the team achieve its dreams. We all share the same goal, but I have also set personal targets. I want to be among the best,” Yasmeen said.

“It feels amazing to be selected among so many talented players. It’s a great honor to represent my country,” she added.

“This is my first call-up to the national team, but I believe in the coach’s tactics and instructions. I listen to her  guidance, and I trust her plan. If given the opportunity to start, I will give my all and work hard with the team to ensure we eliminate Namibia,” she concluded.

The Queen Cranes, guided by head coach Sherly Ulanda Botes, are preparing for the crucial tie against Namibia in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The first leg will be played on Friday 19th, before the return leg on Monday 22nd. 

Both legs will be played at the FUFA Stadium, Kadiba, because Namibia's stadiums do not meet the international standards set by CAF and FIFA. This forces Namibia's national teams to host their "home" games in other countries until necessary stadium upgrades can be completed.

The aggregate winner will advance to the third round and face either Burundi or Zambia.

The Ugandan squad blends local talent and international experience, with players drawn from top domestic clubs, academies, and abroad. Despite never qualifying for a World Cup, the Queen Cranes are determined to make this campaign different.

Uganda's participation in the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup qualifiers began in 2013. After securing a dominant 22-0 aggregate victory against South Sudan, Uganda unfortunately withdrew from the 2014 qualifiers due to funding issues. The team returned to the qualifiers for the 2020 edition but was eliminated in the preliminary round after a 4-2 aggregate loss to Tanzania.

In the 2022 qualifiers, Uganda demonstrated strong progress, defeating Kenya with a 10-3 aggregate score and then overcoming South Africa 1-0 on aggregate to reach the third round.

However, their journey ended in the third round with a 7-1 aggregate defeat to Ghana. In the 2024 qualifiers, the Queen Cranes started strongly by defeating Mozambique 8-0 on aggregate in the first round. They then faced Senegal in the second round, where a 2-1 aggregate loss saw them eliminated from the competition.

Other teams from the CECAFA zone competing in the qualifiers include Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Rwanda.