The battle lines are drawn as Ethiopia’s Lucy hosts Uganda’s Crested Cranes in a high-stakes second leg clash from 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on Wednesday at 3:00 PM (EAT).
Uganda enters the match with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Kampala, where Zaina Namuleme and Fazila Ikwaput struck late to secure the win. But Ethiopia remains hopeful of overturning the deficit, banking on home support and a spirited fightback.
The Crested Cranes have history on their side, having edged Ethiopia on penalties in the 2022 WAFCON qualifiers after a 2-2 aggregate draw. However, the hosts who are popularly nicknamed Lucy are determined to change the script this time around.
Crested Cranes determined to stay in control
Head coach Sheryl Botes is confident her team is well-prepared to seal qualification:
“We have finalized everything today; we are all positive, and the girls are in good condition. We need to tighten up a little bit in all our departments so that we don’t give the opponent a chance to score goals. Today’s training was a repetition of what we have been working on, ensuring perfection.”
Captain Viola Nambi echoed the same sentiments, emphasizing their focus and adaptability:
“The mood in the camp is very good. Everyone is focused, and our major goal here is to beat Ethiopia, get the points, and qualify for the next stage. We had a challenge with the weather, but thank God we are now used to it. We’ve concentrated on set pieces in our final training, and we are now good to go.”
Ethiopia’s Lucy confident of a turnaround
Despite trailing, Ethiopian head coach Joseph Gebreweld remains optimistic:
“We were unlucky to concede a goal in the final moments of the first game but the match is far from over. In front of our supporters, we are fully committed to giving our best effort to qualify for the next round. We firmly believe in our ability to achieve this goal.”
Captain Loza Abera sent a strong message of belief and resilience:
“We lost the first game, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. We still have another 90 minutes tomorrow. We are very sure we will win and qualify.”
With everything at stake, the return leg promises to be a fiercely contested showdown as both teams fight for a place in the next round of qualifiers.
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