Botes Names Teen Cranes Provisional Squad for CECAFA U17 Girls’ Championship

Uganda U17 Women’s National Team head coach Sheryl Botes has named a provisional squad ahead of the 2026 CECAFA U17 Girls’ Championship in Tanzania.

The provisional squad consists of 31 players who have been called up to begin preparations for the regional tournament.

The squad will later be trimmed before the final team travels to Tanzania.

The CECAFA U17 Girls’ Championship will be held from June 13 to June 19, 2026, with matches set to be played at the Azam Complex and KMC Stadium.

Uganda will head into the tournament as defending champions, having won the last edition in 2019.

Botes will be hoping to guide the Teen Cranes to another successful campaign following the team’s recent exit from the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

On Saturday, May 30, Uganda played out a goalless draw with Kenya in Nairobi and were eliminated on the away-goal rule after a 1-1 aggregate score.

The elimination came in the same month that the Uganda U20 Women’s National Team, the Queen Cranes, also bowed out of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers after losing to Ghana.

Uganda has been drawn in Group B and will begin its campaign against Djibouti on June 14 before facing Zanzibar and South Sudan in the remaining group-stage matches.

The summoned players entered residential camp in Kisasi on June 1 as preparations for the tournament officially got underway.

The CECAFA U17 Girls’ Championship will also provide Uganda with an opportunity to assess and develop young talent as the country continues to strengthen its women’s football structures at youth level.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Sharifah Kizito Namutebi – Kampala Queens FC (Uganda), Hawa Kizza – SIA International Academy (Uganda), A. Mayimuna Namuwaya – St. Noa Girls FC (Uganda), Sophia Nakazzi – Boni Consilii Girls FC (Uganda)

Defenders

Martha Babirye – St. Noa Girls FC (Uganda), Jovia Nakirya – Rines SS WFC (Uganda), Angel Gerevans Dominick – St. Noa Girls FC (Uganda), Belinda Nabawanuka – URA Ladies FC (Uganda), Tahia Nantege – ISRA Soccer Academy (Uganda), Ritah Anitah Nambuusi – Bukedea Comprehensive School (Uganda), Phionah Arach – Rines SS WFC (Uganda), Vicky Atyeronimungu – Amus College WFC (Uganda), Halima Mupyanga – Dream Girls Academy (Uganda)

Midfielders

Tracy Nabalanzi – URA Ladies FC (Uganda), Jennifer N. Onyango – SIA International Academy (Uganda), Giovanna Aketogwanga – St. Noa Girls FC (Uganda), Lydia Nameseruka – ISRA Soccer Academy (Uganda), Dorah Nangobi Muteesi – SIA International Academy (Uganda), Brendah Nassaka – St. Noa Girls FC (Uganda), Joan Namakula – ISRA Soccer Academy (Uganda), Susan Nabyonga – St. Noa Girls FC (Uganda), Justine Ayerango – Rines SS WFC (Uganda), Grace Kawino – St. Noa Girls FC (Uganda), Rashidah Nakalema – Unattached (Uganda), Flavia Yagala – BUL WFC (Uganda), Sheila Mungutimu – Boni Consilii Girls FC (Uganda)

Forwards

Immaculate Achen – SIA International Academy (Uganda), Terry Moraa Oseko – Nkoma Secondary School (Uganda), Monica Buteme – Bugisu High School (Uganda), Cynthia Kirenga – URA Ladies FC (Uganda), Shadia Nabirye – Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC (Uganda