Uganda Teen Cranes have advanced to the second round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 qualifiers.

The Teen Cranes defeated Namibia 8-1 in the second leg played on Sunday at the Hamz Stadium, Nakibubo in Kampala.  

Coach Chryl Botes Ulanda’s team went ahead to advance on an 18-1 goal aggregate after they won the first leg 10-0.

Namibai’s Renalda Angel Tamara netted an own goal 15 minutes when she deflected a shot in her own net. Joan Kizza Namulindwa and Isabella Blick also got their names on the score sheet for Uganda to make it 3-0 at the interval.

In the second half, the Namibia team tried to re-organise themselves, but still failed to penetrate the Ugandan defending line. Namulindwa later scored her second goal after 50 minutes, while Rinah Ariho, and substitutes Shadia Nabirye and Rashida Nakalema also scored.

Namibia’s lone goal was netted by Shiwovanhu Haukongo.

Ulanda praised her team for the good display in the two legs. “We played very well and the team was really attacking well,” added the coach. Uganda will now face Kenya in the second round in March this year.

The other teams from the CECAFA Zone that will play in the second round include; Ethiopia, Tanzania and Burundi.

JKT Queens are the winners of the inaugural CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) 2025.

The all Tanzanian-final saw JKT Queens defeat TDS Academy 2-1 in the final played on Saturday at the Azam Complex, Chamazi in Dar es Salaam.

Mathias Winfrida gave TDS Girls the lead after 37 minutes, but JKT Queens returned after the interval a different side to score two goals.

The tournament’s top scorer Winifrida Hubert Gerald netted a quick brace after 70 minutes.

Esther Fred Chabruma, the JKT Queens coach said she was very proud of her players who won all their matches in the tournament. “It was hard work by the team that has seen us win the trophy,” added Chabruma.

Kenya Academy of Sport (KAS) who beat Uganda’s Boni Consilli 2-0 in the play-off on Friday finished third, while Kenya Elite Junior Academy came fifth after stopping Aigle Noir (Burundi) 4-0.

The tournament, a pioneering initiative by CAF has attracted seven teams from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan.

Awards

Fair Play Award – TDS Academy (Tanzania)

Top scorer – Winifrida Hubert Gerald (JKT Queens, Tanzania)

Best Goalkeeper – Nusra Jafari (TDS Academy, Tanzania)

Best Player – Mary Arone (TDS Academy, Tanzania)

Silver Medal – TDS Academy (Tanzania)

Bronze Medal – Kenya Academy of Sports (Kenya)

Uganda has made a good start in the qualifiers for Africa in for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025.

Skipper Agnes Nabukenya was on target six times as Uganda humbled Namibia 10-0 in the first leg of the first round of the qualifiers played at the Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo on Thursday in Kampala.

Nabukenya netted four goals, while Martha Babirye and Ritah Ariho also found the back of the net to give Uganda a 6-0 first half lead.

In the second half Namibia’s Baby Gladiators tried to fight back, but failed to penetrate Uganda’s defending line.

Joan Kizza was on hand to make it 7-0 for Uganda, while Nabukenya added two more goals. Substitute Isabella Blick Kabarozi also got her name on the score sheet to make it 10-0.

Uganda’s coach Sheryl Botes Ulanda said she was happy with the way her team played with aggressiveness. “I am very with the result. We need to keep positive and work hard ahead of the return leg,” added the coach.

The return leg will be played on January 19^th with the winner advancing to play Kenya in the second round.

The other teams from the CECAFA Zone that have earned walk-overs and advanced to the second round include Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Four teams will qualify from the qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025 in Morocco as representatives from Africa alongside Morocco being the hosts.

Tanzania’s TDS Girls have booked a place in the semi finals at the on-going CAF U-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) 2025 in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

TDS Girls made it to the knock-out stage after stopping Burundi’s Aigle Noir 2-0 in a Group B match played on Saturday at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.

Asha Omary and Hellena Mtundagi netted the goals to ensure TDS Girls collected their second straight win after they also defeated Boni Consilli Girls from Uganda by the same margin.

Hilda Masanche, the TDS Girls coach said she was happy to guide the team to the semi-final stage. “My team played well with a very good approach,” added Masanche.

TDS Girls have now joined another Tanzanian team JKT Queens in the semi final stage.

On Friday JKT Queens defeated Kenya Elite Junior Academy 2-1, while Kenya Academy of Sport humbled City Light FC (South Sudan) 5-1 in the other Group A match.

A record 22 goals have been scored so far in the six matches played in this pioneering CAF U-15 Girls tournament, an initiative by Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Action will continue on January 13^th, 2025 with Kenya Elite Junior Academy facing Kenya Academy of Sport, while JKT Queens take on City Light FC (South Sudan).