Uganda were eliminated by Kenya on away goals from the 2016 Africa U-17 Women World Cup Qualifiers on Saturday.
Sloppy defending saw the Teen Cranes give Kenya’s Emily Adhiambo a wonder goal in a 1-1 home draw in the first leg of the second and penultimate qualification round at Fufa Stadium Kadiba on May 22.
Then on Saturday, coach Sheryl Botes’ side drew 0-0 away at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi to fall to coach Mildred Cheche’s Junior Starlets at the same stage for a second year running.
Botes, who needed a victory or high scoring draw to make it to the final qualification hurdle due in July, made two changes to the side that drew at home with Ritah Nambuusi coming into defence ahead of Phionah Arach while Martha Babirye replaced Brenda Nassaka in midfield.
Cynthia Kirenga who was withdrawn in the first half at Kadiba was allowed to start in Nairobi but was replaced at the start of the second half by Joan Namakula.
Uganda were undoubtedly superior in possession to their Kenyan counterparts and fashioned first half chances through Immaculate Acen from close range and Justine Ayerango from distance but could not find the accuracy.
Acen was again played through on goal by Shadia Nabirye early in the second half but Kenyan captain Beverline Awuor did well to recover. Botes showed more ambition when winger Grace Kawino replaced defender Dominick Gerevans Angel in the 65th minute but the Kenyans kept tight.
In the 76th minute, Babirye forced the Kenyan goalie to spill a freekick but the ball fell to Ayerango at the edge of the box and her shot agonizingly went wide.
In the end, Kenya managed to see out the game and await to play the winner between South Africa and Tanzania for a place in the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup due in Morocco from October 17 – November 7. South Africa beat Tanzania 2-0 away from home and the second leg was due yesterday in Pretoria.
Uganda and Botes, on the other hand, have to pick themselves up after being eliminated from two youth football World Cup qualifiers in a space of three weeks. Earlier, the Queen Cranes were stopped by Ghana at home in the quest to make it to the September Fifa U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.