Firew Hailegebreal’s Crested Cranes Stint Begins with Olympic Qualifying Heartbreak

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Zambia 4-1 Uganda (Zambia win 5-3 on aggregate)

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Firew Asefa Hailegebreal endured a disappointing start as head coach of Uganda’s senior women’s national football team, the Crested Cranes, after they were eliminated from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualifiers by Zambia’s Copper Queens.

The Crested Cranes suffered a 4-1 defeat in the return leg played on Tuesday evening, October 13, 2026, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Zambia. The result saw the Copper Queens advance to the next round with a 5-3 aggregate victory.

Natasha Nanyangwe, Enelesi Phiri and captain Barbra Banda, who scored twice in the second half, were on target for Zambia, while Sylvia Kabene scored Uganda’s only goal of the night.

The defeat ended Uganda’s hopes of progressing in the Olympic qualifiers, with the Copper Queens delivering a commanding performance in front of their home supporters.

For Hailegebreal, who took charge after Sheryl Botes left following the expiry of her contract, the elimination marks a difficult beginning to his tenure. The Ethiopian tactician previously worked with Kampala Queens before taking up the national team role.

The result is another setback for the Crested Cranes as they continue their pursuit of a place among Africa’s leading women’s football nations.

Zambia Make Early Statement

The Copper Queens started aggressively, putting the Ugandan defence under immediate pressure. Their efforts paid off in the ninth minute when Natasha Nanyangwe headed home from a corner kick to give the hosts an early lead.

Uganda responded through Sylvia Kabene, who chased a long ball and capitalised on a defensive mistake by the Zambian backline. She kept her composure before beating the goalkeeper to level the score at 1-1.

The visitors appeared to be settling into the contest, but their defensive concentration soon let them down.

In the 21st minute, Enelesi Phiri restored Zambia’s advantage after exploiting space on the left flank before finishing from close range to make it 2-1.

The goal gave the hosts renewed confidence as they continued to dominate proceedings and put the Ugandan defence under sustained pressure.

Banda Brace Seals Uganda’s Fate

The second half belonged to Zambia captain Barbra Banda, who demonstrated her quality by scoring twice to put the contest beyond Uganda’s reach.

In the 51st minute, Banda capitalised on a defensive error, raced past her marker and beat goalkeeper Edith Karungi to extend Zambia’s lead to 3-1.

Uganda struggled to contain the Zambian captain, whose movement and attacking threat continued to trouble the visitors.

Towards the closing stages, Banda completed her brace with another goal to make it 4-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate. Her performance extinguished Uganda’s remaining hopes of staging a comeback and confirmed Zambia’s progression to the next qualifying round.

Crested Cranes Face Another Olympic Setback

The elimination represents another setback for Uganda’s women’s national team, which continues to pursue its dream of qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time.

With their Los Angeles 2028 Olympic campaign over, the Crested Cranes will have to regroup and rebuild ahead of future international assignments.

Uganda’s next opportunity to qualify for the Olympics will come through the qualification campaign for the Brisbane 2032 Games. However, the team will need to address its defensive weaknesses and improve its consistency against stronger opposition.

For Hailegebreal, the immediate challenge will be to restore confidence within the squad and demonstrate that he can guide the Crested Cranes towards a more competitive future.