The Uganda U20 Women’s Football National Team, the Queen Cranes, lost 1-0 to Senegal in the first leg of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers on Saturday evening in Dakar.
Sokhna Pene’s late first-half goal was enough to give Senegal a first-leg advantage over Uganda.
The Queen Cranes started the match brightly and looked to take an early lead, but they were unable to penetrate the Senegalese defense and create any clear-cut scoring chances.
Before the break, Sokhna Pene scored a beautiful goal after a blunder by Queen Cranes defender Desire Natooro in the defense, putting Senegal in the lead.
Uganda head coach Ayub Khalifah brought on several forwards in the second half in search of the equalizer, but Senegal defended well and protected their lead.
The Queen Cranes will now need to score at least two goals in the return leg at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru on November 18 to advance to the next round.
The winner on aggregate between Uganda and Senegal will face either Eswatini or Ghana in the next qualifying stage.
Only four qualified teams from Africa will play at the finals of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Colombia from September 5-22, 2024.
How Uganda lined up: Sharon Kaidu (GK), Harima Kanyago, Sharifah Nakimera, Desire Katiisi Natooro, Patricia Nakato Nanyanzi, Krusum Namutebi, Agnes Nabukenya, Kevin Nakacwa, Hadijah Nandago, Catherine Nagadya, Margaret Kunihira.
Courtesy Photos
