Teen Cranes poised for Harare clash: Coach Botes sets sights on victory

​The Ugandan Teen Cranes wrapped up their final preparations at Ngoni Stadium on Saturday evening, exuding a quiet confidence ahead of their pivotal away leg in the ongoing qualification campaign.

​With the stakes high, head coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes has left no stone unturned. Following the team’s final training session, Botes signaled a clear intent to dictate the tempo of the upcoming encounter.

​”We are very confident,” Botes stated. “We have worked on both our offensive and defensive structures and built combinations that will give us an attacking threat. Our objective is to win and make the people of Uganda proud.”

​Ahead of the match, Coach Botes officially unveiled the team’s leadership structure, placing her faith in experience and composure. Martha Babirye has been named captain, with Phionah Arachi appointed to serve as her assistant.

​For the newly appointed skipper, the responsibility is one she embraces with enthusiasm.

​”It is an honour to lead this team,” Babirye said after the session.

“The squad is in good shape, the atmosphere in camp is positive and we are fully focused on securing a strong result away from home,” she added.

​This fixture serves as the opening chapter of a high-stakes two-legged tie. The winner of this contest, decided on aggregate, will punch their ticket to the next round of the qualifiers.

​The battle is set to conclude in Uganda, with the return leg scheduled for Saturday, 18 April 2026, at the FUFA Stadium in Kadiba.

The victor of this aggregate duel will not have much time to celebrate; they are set to face a challenging next round, with either Namibia or Kenya waiting in the wings to determine who continues their march toward tournament qualification.

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