Crested Cranes - FUFA: Federation of Uganda Football Associations

CRESTED CRANES:

Crested Cranes is the senior women football team. Faridah Bulega is the head coach assisted by Edward Kaziba and Ayub Khalifa plus Olive Mbekeka as the team trainer. Legendary Uganda Cranes 1978 AFCON goalkeeper Paul Ssali is the current team coordinator as James Magala serves as the goalkeeping coach

Crested Cranes Currently ranked 143 in the whole world.

The team captain is Ruth Aturo who plies her trade with UCU Lady Cardinals. The assistant captains are Bridget Nabisaalu and Fazila Ikwaput.

2019 CECAFA Women Challenge Cup

Crested Cranes played in the 2019 CECAFA Women Challenge Cup in Dar es Salaam in November. The team was in Group B together with Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.

After a successful qualification from the group stage (2nd with 6 points), the Crested Cranes narrowly lost to the hosts Tanzania 1-0 in the semifinal however the Team managed to defeat Burundi 2-0 in the third-place playoff match.

Crested Cranes team that beat Ethiopia 1-0 in 2019 CECAFA

Group Stage

Crested Cranes 13-0 Djibouti

Juliet Nalukenge netted five goals, Hassifa Nassuna and Fazila Ikwaput scored hat tricks, Fauzia Najjemba and Amina Nababi pulled off one each.

Crested Cranes Team that started against Djibouti

Crested Cranes Line-up against Djibouti

Ruth Aturo (G.K), Viola Namuddu, Asia Nakibuuka, Bridget Nabisaalu, Shadia Nankya, Reticia Nabbosa, Zaina Namuleme, Hasifa Nassuna, Juliet Nalukenge, Fauzia Najjemba, Fazila Ikwaput

Substitutes: Daizy Nakaziro, Joan Namusisi, Eunice Ariokot, Grace Aluka, Aisha Namukisa, Harriet Nakkuba, Amina Nababi, Margaret Kunihira, Shamira Nalugya

Crested Cranes 1-0 Ethiopia

Fauzia Najjemba scored for Crested Cranes

Crested Cranes Line-up against Ethiopia

Ruth Aturo (C), Viola Namuddu, Asia Nakibuuka, Shadia Nankya, Bridget Nabisaalu, Riticia Nabbosa, Zainah Namuleme, Hasifa Nassuna, Fazila Ikwaput, Juliet Nalukenge, Fauzia Najjemba

Substitutes: Nakaziro Daizy (G.K), Namusisi Joan, Eunice Ariokot, Grace Aluka, Aisha Namukisa, Harriet Nakuba, Amina Nababi, Margret Kunihira, Shamirah Nalugya

Kenya 3-0 Crested Cranes

Crested Cranes that started against Kenya in 2019 CECAFA

Crested Cranes Line-up against Kenya

Ruth Aturo, Viola Namuddu, Grace Aluka, Bridget Nabisaalu, Shadia Nankya, Reticia Nabossa, Asia Nakibuuka, Hasifa Nassuna, Juliet Nalukenge, Fazila Ikwaput, Fauzia Najjemba

Semifinal

Tanzania 1-0 Crested Cranes

Crested Cranes Line-up against Tanzania

Ruth Aturo – Captain, Viola Namuddu, Asia Nakibuuka, Shadia Nankya, Aisha Namukisa, Bridget Nabisaalu, Riticia Nabbosa, Hasifa Nassuna, Fazila Ikwaput, Juliet Nalukenge, Fauzia Najjemba

Substitutes: Nakaziro Daizy, Namusisi Joan, Eunice Ariokot, Grace Aluka, Amina Nababi, Zainah Namuleme, Margret Kunihira, Shamirah Nalugya, Harriet Nakuba

Third Place Playoff

Crested Cranes 2-0 Burundi

Shamirah Nalugya and Aminah Nababi scored for Crested Cranes

Uganda Crested Cranes Team that played Burundi in 2019 CECAFA 3rd place playoff

Crested Cranes scorers in CECAFA

Juliet Nalukenge 5 goals
Hassifa Nassuna 3 goals
Fazila Ekwaput 3 goals
Fauzia Najjemba 2 goals
Aminah Nababi 2 goals
Shamirah Nalugya 1 goal

Crested Cranes celebrations in 2019 CECAFA

CECAFA 2019 Squad

Goalkeepers:

Daisy Nakaziro (Lady Doves), Ruth Aturo (UCU Lady Cardinals), Namusisi Joan (Isra Soccer Academy)

Defenders:

Viola Namuddu (Makerere University), Shadia Nankya (UCU Lady Cardinals), Bridget Nabisaalu (She Corporate), Eunice Ariokot (Olila High School ) Grace Aluka ( Kawempe Muslim SS Ladies FC), Aisha Namukisa (Kampala Queens).

Midfielders:

Asia Nakibuuka (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Riticia Nabbosa (Lady Doves), Harriet Nakuba (Kampala Queens), Amina Nababi (Makerere University), Fauzia Najjemba (Kampala Queens)

Forwards:

Hassifa Nassuna (UCU Lady Cardinals), Juliet Nalukenge (Kawempe Muslim), Margret Kunihira (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Zainah Namuleme (Kampala Queens), Fazila Ikwaput (Lady Doves), Shamirah Nalugya (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC)

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Qualifiers

Crested Cranes registered in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers. The team faced off with Ethiopia in a 2 leg preliminary round encounter.

Crested Cranes lost 3-2 in the 1st leg away in Ethiopia before losing 1-0 at home in the 2nd leg.

1st Leg – Ethiopia 3-2 Crested Cranes

Tarikuwa Debiso (own goal) and Hassifa Nassuna scored for Crested Cranes.

Crested Cranes team that played Ethiopia away in Tokyo 2020 Olympics Qualifier

Crested Cranes Line-up

Ruth Aturo (GK/C), Viola Namuddu, Grace Aluka, Aisha Namukisa, Shadia Nankya, Yudaya Nakayenze, Lillian Mutuuzo, Phiona Nabbumba, Shamira Nalugya (Fazila Ikwaput), Sandra Nabweteme (Hasifah Nassuna) and Zainah Namuleme (Fauzia Najjemba)

Unused substitutes: Daisy Nakaziro (GK), Juliet Nalukenge, Raticia Nabbosa, Amagat Marrion, Tracy Jones Akiror and Nanziri Resty

2nd Leg – Crested Cranes 0-1 Ethiopia

Uganda Crested Cranes Team that started against Ethiopia in the 2nd Leg of Tokyo 2020 Olympics Qualifiers

Crested Cranes Line-up

Ruth Aturo, Viola Namuddu, Grace Aluka, Aisha Namukisa, Shadia Nankya, Yudaya Nakayenze, Resty Nanziri, Tracy Jones Akiror, Fazila Ikwaput, Hasifa Nasuna, and Fauzia Najjemba.

Substitutes

Daisy Nakaziro, Marion Amangat, Phionah Nabbumba, Shamilah Nalujja, Lilian Mutuuzo, Ritah Nabbosa, Zainah Namuleme, Juliet Nalukenge and Sandra Nabweteme.

2019 AWCON Qualifiers

The Crested Cranes played in 2019 AWCON qualifiers slipping to neighbors Kenya with a 1-0 aggregate score after a 1-0 loss away and a barren draw in the return leg on 8th April 2018 in Lugogo.

Crested Cranes players that started against Kenya in 2019 AWCON Qualifier 2nd Leg match at Lugogo

2018 CECAFA Women Challenge Cup

Crested Cranes finished runners-up in CECAFA 2018 in Kigali Rwanda. The Team managed vital victories against Ethiopia (2-1), Kenya (1-0), and a draw with the hosts Rwanda (2-2). The only loss was against the champions Tanzania (4-1).

Crested Cranes Team after receiving Silver Medals during the closing ceremony of the CECAFA Women Challenge Cup in Rwanda.

In September 2018, The Crested Cranes was invited to participate in the COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa.

Crested Cranes finish third in the tournament that involved African Women football powerhouse Cameroon, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe among others.

Uganda (Crested Cranes) overcame Swaziland in the group stages with a 4-3 win, drew with Namibia 0-0 and defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in the last group match on 17th September 2018. Juliet Nalukenge and captain Tracy Jones Akiror scored the two goals. The team progressed to the semifinals only losing out to the hosts South Africa by 2-0.

Crested Cranes team that played against South Africa in COSAFA Women’s Championship in 2018

In the third-place playoff, Crested Cranes won Zambia 1-0 courtesy of Tracy Jones Akiror’s penalty goal. Ruth Aturo was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

In April 2019, Crested Cranes played Ethiopia in the Olympics Tokyo 2020 qualifier. Unfortunately, the team was eliminated 4-2 aggregate. 1st Leg Ethiopia 3-2 Uganda and 2nd Leg Uganda 0-1 Ethiopia.