Uganda’s hopes of reaching the women’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games suffered another blow after the Crested Cranes were eliminated by Zambia’s Copper Queens following a 4-1 defeat in the return leg on Tuesday evening.
The Copper Queens overturned Uganda’s advantage to secure a 5-3 aggregate victory at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, ending the Crested Cranes’ Olympic campaign and handing Ethiopian tactician Firew Asefa Hailegebreal a difficult start to his tenure as head coach.
Zambia’s captain Barbra Banda scored twice in the second half, while Natasha Nanyangwe and Enelesi Phiri also found the net to complete a commanding home performance. Sylvia Kabene scored Uganda’s only goal of the evening.
The defeat leaves Uganda with more questions to answer as the team continues its search for a maiden appearance at the Olympic Games.
Zambia Punish Uganda’s Defensive Lapses
The hosts set the tone early, pressing Uganda’s defence and taking the lead in the ninth minute when Nanyangwe headed home from a corner.
The Crested Cranes responded through Kabene, who capitalised on a defensive mistake after chasing a long ball before calmly beating the goalkeeper to restore parity.
However, Uganda’s brief resurgence was halted in the 21st minute when Phiri exploited space down the left flank and finished from close range to put Zambia back in front.
The goal shifted the momentum firmly in favour of the Copper Queens, who continued to exploit defensive gaps and put the visitors under sustained pressure.
Uganda went into the second half needing a disciplined performance to keep their qualification hopes alive, but further defensive errors proved costly.
Banda Delivers the Knockout Blow
Banda took centre stage after the break, punishing Uganda’s defensive shortcomings with two goals that sealed Zambia’s progression.
The Zambian captain struck in the 51st minute after capitalising on a defensive error, racing past her marker before beating goalkeeper Edith Karungi to extend the hosts’ lead to 3-1.
Uganda struggled to contain Banda’s movement and attacking threat as Zambia maintained their intensity in search of another goal.
The captain eventually completed her brace towards the closing stages, making it 4-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate to extinguish any remaining hopes of a Ugandan comeback.
For the Copper Queens, the victory secured passage to the next qualifying round, while Uganda were left to reflect on a campaign undone by defensive frailties against stronger opposition.
Hailegebreal Faces Early Test
The elimination presents an immediate challenge for Hailegebreal, who took over the Crested Cranes following the departure of Sheryl Botes at the expiry of her contract.
The Ethiopian coach previously worked with Kampala Queens before assuming responsibility for the national team, but his first major assignment has ended in disappointment.
Beyond the result, Uganda’s inability to contain Zambia’s attacking threats and maintain defensive discipline will be a concern as the team seeks to improve its competitiveness on the continental stage.
The Crested Cranes must now regroup and redirect their attention towards upcoming international assignments while working to address the shortcomings exposed during the tie.
With the Los Angeles 2028 dream over, Uganda’s next opportunity to pursue Olympic qualification will come in the build-up to the Brisbane 2032 Games.
For Hailegebreal, the task now is to rebuild confidence, strengthen the team’s defensive organisation and lay the foundations for a more competitive Crested Cranes side.
