Written By | Our Reporter
The Teen Cranes will be among 30 African nations battling for slots at the 2026 global tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco
Search
Sports Desk
The Uganda national women’s U17 team, the Teen Cranes, have been drawn against Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup qualifiers. According to the draw conducted yesterday in Rabat, Morocco, the Teen Cranes will be among 30 African nations battling for slots at the 2026 global tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco.
World football governing body FIFA decided to stage the U17 World Cup for both men and women annually as part of efforts to promote grassroots football development globally.
FIFA also decided to grant Qatar and Morocco five consecutive years of hosting rights for the men’s and women’s tournaments respectively, starting last year.
According to the fixtures, first-leg matches will be played between April 10 and 12, with the second legs scheduled for April 17 to 19. Uganda will play the first leg away in Harare before hosting the return leg in Kampala. At the same time, Kenya will travel to Namibia for the first leg in Windhoek before hosting the second leg in Nairobi. If they qualify for the next round, the Teen Cranes, coached by Sherly Botes, will face the winner between Kenya and Namibia.
Last year, Uganda was eliminated by Kenya with a 5–0 aggregate defeat in the second round, after having earlier thrashed Namibia 18–0 on aggregate.
First-round matches
Zimbabwe vs Uganda
Namibia vs Kenya
Niger vs Guinea
Burkina Faso vs Benin
Sierra Leone vs Côte d’Ivoire
Tunisia vs Senegal
Algeria vs Cameroon
Togo vs Ghana
Libya vs Liberia
Rwanda vs Zambia
DR Congo vs Djibouti
South Sudan vs Ethiopia
Malawi vs Burundi
Botswana vs Tanzania
Central African Republic vs South Africa
Second-round matches
Niger or Guinea vs Nigeria
Burkina Faso or Benin vs Sierra Leone or Côte d’Ivoire
Tunisia or Senegal vs Algeria or Cameroon
Togo or Ghana vs Libya or Liberia
Rwanda or Zambia vs DR Congo or Djibouti
South Sudan or Ethiopia vs Malawi or Burundi
Botswana or Tanzania vs Central African Republic or South Africa
Zimbabwe or Uganda vs Namibia or Kenya
