Hosts Kenya have defeated Tanzania in the first leg of the third round of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Rising Starlets scored late through Elizabeth Mideva in a match played at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Saturday.

Jackline Juma, the Kenyan coach thanked her team for working hard to find a goal against a strong Tanzanian side. “We are happy to pick a win and now we must prepare well for the return leg,” said Juma.

In Kampala, the hosts Uganda settled for a 1-1 draw against Zambia in a match played at the FUFA Stadium, Kadiba.

Agnes Nabukenya scored for Uganda after 23 minutes, while Edith Phiri leveled matters for Zambia after 59 minutes to make it 1-1.

Sheryl Ulanda Botes, Uganda’s head coach said that her team created several chances, but failed to convert them into goals. “The first leg is complete and now we must focus on preparing for the return leg,” added Botes.

The winner after this group will qualify to face the winner between Ghana and South Africa in the final phase of the qualifiers. The winner between Kenya and Tanzania will face the winner between Cameroon and Botswana at the next stage.

Africa will be represented by the best four teams to join 20 others from other continents at the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup to take place in Poland later this year.

Kenya win, Uganda draw in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers

Hosts Kenya have defeated Tanzania in the first leg of the third round of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Rising Starlets scored late through Elizabeth Mideva in a match played at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Saturday.

Jackline Juma, the Kenyan coach thanked her team for working hard to find a goal against a strong Tanzanian side. “We are happy to pick a win and now we must prepare well for the return leg,” said Juma.

In Kampala, the hosts Uganda settled for a 1-1 draw against Zambia in a match played at the FUFA Stadium, Kadiba.

Agnes Nabukenya scored for Uganda after 23 minutes, while Edith Phiri leveled matters for Zambia after 59 minutes to make it 1-1.

Sheryl Ulanda Botes, Uganda’s head coach said that her team created several chances, but failed to convert them into goals. “The first leg is complete and now we must focus on preparing for the return leg,” added Botes.

The winner after this group will qualify to face the winner between Ghana and South Africa in the final phase of the qualifiers. The winner between Kenya and Tanzania will face the winner between Cameroon and Botswana at the next stage.

Africa will be represented by the best four teams to join 20 others from other continents at the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup to take place in Poland later this year.

Three teams from the CECAFA Zone will be in action in the first leg of the first round in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier 2026 on Saturday.

Kenya’s Rising Starlets will hosts Tanzania at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in what promises to be a thriller, while Uganda take on Zambia at the FUFA Stadium, Kadiba.

Coach Jackline Juma has said winning the home match against Tanzania will be a good motivator for the team before traveling for the return leg. “Our training good and we are prepare for the match we know will not be an easy one,” said the Kenyan coach.

Bakari Shime, the experienced Tanzanian coach has also made it clear that they know the importance of the first leg and will work hard to make sure they get a good result.

“I have told my players how important it is to win away and make our work easier in the return leg. Kenya is not an easy team, but we have prepared well for the match,” added the head coach of the Tanzanite Queens.

While Kenya saw off Ethiopia 5-1 on aggregate, Tanzania demolished Angola 7-0 on aggregate to qualify for the third round.

In Kampala Uganda will face a tough test against one of the strongest teams from the COSAFA Zone Zambia.

Uganda who ejected Namibia 5-0 on aggregate on the second round will look to professional players Sylvia Kabene who features for Herbernian FC in Malta and Desire Katisi Natooro (Kenya Police Bullets FC) to lead the team.

Sheryl Ulanda Botes, Uganda’s head coach has also made it clear that they must try to get a positive result at home. “We need to concentrate and get a good result,” said Botes.

After the third group teams will qualify to play in the fourth round which is the final phase of the qualifiers.

Africa will be represented by the best four teams to join 20 others from other continents at the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup to take place in Poland later this year.

The Twiga Stars of Tanzania have been drawn in Group B along side South Africa, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026.

CAF conducted the draw on January 16^th in Rabat, Morocco.

The tournament which will attract 16 teams will be hosted by Morocco to run March 17^th to April 3rd, 2026.

Kenya, the second team from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) have been placed in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Algeria and Senegal.

The defending champions and 10-time champions Nigeria are in Group C together with Zambia, Egypt and Malawi.

The top two sides in each of the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals, and the four teams that reach the semi-finals will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.

The losers at the quarter-final stage will play a set of matches to determine which two African teams will enter the inter-confederation play-offs for a place at the World Cup.

Groups

Group A (Rabat, Moulay Hassan Stadium)

Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya

Group B (Rabat, Al Madina Stadium)

South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Tanzania

Group C (Casablanca)

Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi

Group D (Fes)

Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde

Ugandan International Fauzia Najjemba has joined Boston Legacy in the USA on a two year contract.

The Crested Cranes player last week signed with the National Women Super league (NWSL) side in the USA after leaving Russia’s Dynamo Moscow

“I am very happy to have signed with Boston Legacy and I can’t wait to start a new challenge in USA,” said Najjemba.

The winger featured for Isra Soccer Academy and Kampala Queens in Uganda, and later made her first professional Football move to join BIIK Shymkent in Kazakhstan.

Najjemba becomes the second Ugandan female player to join another NWSL side. Defender Shadia Nankya joined Washington Spirit last moth, but was later loaned out to Dallas Trinity.

Boston Legacy are new comers in the NWSL in the League which will now feature 16 teams instead of the previous 14. Boston Legacy and Denver Summit are the new comers in NWSL.