The Uganda women’s national team, the Crested Cranes, endured a painful exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers after falling to Ethiopia in a dramatic second-leg encounter at the Abebe Bikila Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite carrying a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, Uganda succumbed to a spirited Ethiopian comeback, losing 2-0 in normal time before suffering a 5-4 defeat in the penalty shootout.
Aregash Kalsa and Etsegenet Girma were Ethiopia’s heroes, netting crucial goals to level the aggregate score at 2-2 and force the game into spot-kicks.
Uganda had early chances to seal qualification but failed to capitalize with Resty Nanziri and Fazila Ikwaput misfiring. Ethiopia also squandered key opportunities in the first half before turning up the pressure after the break.
The game took a decisive turn in the 55th minute when Uganda was reduced to 10 players following Ikwaput’s second booking. Ethiopia capitalized, with Kalsa striking a stunning long-range goal in the 66th minute.
Uganda desperately clung to their aggregate lead, but in the dying moments of added time, Girma curled in a brilliant free kick to force a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Phiona Nabbumba struck the post for Uganda, while Daisy Nakaziro made a crucial save against Senaf Wakuma. However, Ethiopian goalkeeper Terikwa Bergena denied Resty Kobusobozi, sealing Ethiopia’s triumph.
Ethiopia will now face Tanzania in the final qualification stage, with the latter eliminating Equatorial Guinea 4-2 on aggregate.
Crested Cranes head coach Sheryl Botes expressed her disappointment after the match, highlighting the team’s lack of intensity.
“We are all disappointed; we never expected to come and lose here. We knew from the beginning it was going to be tough coming here with a 2-0 lead. We weren’t competitive enough, especially at the start. We had plans to score and to win, but there is a lot we still have to do—a lot to invest in, especially in the Crested Cranes.”
Botes also pointed out individual performances and the impact of Ikwaput’s red card.
“Some key players didn’t really come out to show us what they can do. We lost Fazila to a red card, and it made things more complicated for us.”
With the WAFCON dream now over, Botes will shift focus to Uganda’s U-17 girls national team, the Teen Cranes, as they prepare for their 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifier against Kenya on March 8th in Uganda.
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