Ethiopia, Uganda qualify for next round of FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers

CECAFA representatives Ethiopia and Uganda have sealed their places in round 4 of the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Ethiopia humbled Botswana 5-1 in the return leg of round three in a match played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on Friday. Coach Firew Hailegebral’s team went on to qualify on a 8-2 goal aggregate.

The home side started well as the Botswana team defended in numbers. But after 27 minutes defender Keimetse Thomas nodded in an own goal to put Ethiopia 1-0 up.

After three minutes Ariet Odong Ojho run on the left flank and beat a defender before shooting past the Botswana goalkeeper Lorato Doris Motshegwe to make it 2-0. The star player of the Ethiopian team Ridiet Assresahagn made sure she also picked a brace before the interval.

In the second half Botswana conceded another own goal through Lirato Motligelwa after 57 minutes. Tshegofatso Nomsa Mosotho pulled one goal back for Botswana after 86 minutes.

“We are happy to qualify for the next round of the qualifiers. The team is determine to keep working hard,” said Ethiopia’s captain Mardos Getenet Mekonnen after the match.

In Johannesburg, the Uganda team ejected hosts South Africa on a 1-0 goal aggregate. After Uganda won the first leg 1-0, they went on to battle for a goalless draw at the Dobsonsville Stadium.

Today two other CECAFA teams Burundi and Tanzania will face-off in the return leg in the town of Ngozi. Tanzania picked a 3-2 win in the first leg played in Dar es salaam.

The eight teams that will qualify on aggregate will play in the fourth round of the qualifiers. Africa will be represented by two teams at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2022 in Costa Rica.