The Uganda U20 Women’s National Team, the Queen Cranes, have intensified preparations for this week’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia by shifting their residential camp to FUFA Hotel, Kisaasi.
The crucial first-leg encounter will be played on Friday, 7th February 2026, at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba, with the Queen Cranes aiming to secure a positive result before travelling to Zambia for the return leg on 14th February 2026.
The relocation to Kisaasi concludes a seven-day residential training camp at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, where a 29-player squad underwent intensive preparations. The Njeru phase focused largely on physical conditioning as the technical team worked to raise the players’ endurance levels ahead of the demanding two-legged tie.
Head Coach Sheryl Botes explained that the camp was structured to maximise training output, with double sessions forming the core of the programme.
“We started on Sunday with double training sessions and tried to maximise the number of sessions. The key performance focus during this period was improving the girls’ endurance levels,” Botes said.
The camp ended with a friendly match against Rays of Grace U14 boys, which the Queen Cranes lost 4–1, with Angel Auki Kigongo scoring Uganda’s lone goal. The match served as a final test of fitness and match sharpness before the team shifted focus to tactical fine-tuning for the Zambia clash.
Botes also praised the facilities at the FUFA Technical Centre, noting their contribution to the team’s progress.
“I am really grateful for the time we spent at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru, where we had full access to the pitch. This allowed us to conduct double training sessions and greatly contributed to the players’ improvement,” she added.
