The stage is set for a blockbuster clash as the Ethiopian national women’s football team hosts their Ugandan counterparts in Addis Ababa in the second leg of the first round of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 Qualifiers at the Abebe Bikila Stadium on Wednesday at 3:00PM (EAT).
Both sides are expected to present a strong challenge in this do-or-die encounter, which will determine the team that advances to the second and final round of qualifiers, where the winner on aggregate will face the victor between Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.
Uganda carry a 2-0 advantage from the reverse fixture played in Kampala at the Hamz Stadium four days ago. They staged a late assault that saw Zaina Namuleme and Fazila Ikwaput score at the tail end of the match. The closely contested first leg underlined the quality of both teams, promising a fiercely competitive return leg.
History favours the Crested Cranes in this competition, as they previously defeated Ethiopia 2-1 on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw to qualify for the 2022 edition of Africa’s premier women’s football tournament, which was staged in Morocco.
However, the home side has a reputation for rising to the occasion in big matches, and they will be determined to overturn the first-leg result and possibly shock the Crested Cranes.
With both teams boasting immense quality in their squads, this fixture promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Quotes
Crested Cranes Head Coach and Team Captain
“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 training all along, especially in our first game and it’s all about repeating what we want them to do until perfection.” – Sheryl Botes, Crested Cranes Head coach
“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 to the next stage. We had a challenge with the weather but thank God we are now used, we came early so we’ve learnt to deal with it. In the last training, we’ve concentrated on set pieces and we are now good to go.” – Viola Nambi, Crested Cranes Captain
Ethiopian Head Coach and Team Captain
“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.” – Yoseph Geberwold, Ethiopia Lucy Head Coach
“We lost the first game but that doesn’t mean the game is over we have another 90min tomorrow. We are very sure tomorrow we will win and qualify. I believe we will qualify.” – Loza Abera, Ethiopia Lucy Captain
Pictorial – Last Training
