The Uganda Women U17 national team are set to take on Ethiopia in the first stage of the World Cup qualifiers on Saturday afternoon at the StarTimes Stadium.
The game will be the team’s first encounter with the FIFA World Cup.
Women football has been on the rise recently in Uganda and taking part in these qualifiers is perhaps another testament that the game is indeed growing.
Uganda’s team has been undergoing intense training for the past week and will feel they are ready to take on Ethiopia.
“I believe we are ready; the girls have been working hard in the training sessions we have had since we entered camp, noted Uganda’s head coach Ayub Khalifa.
“Whereas it is important to have them physically fit, we have tried to prepare them mentally to make sure they are in good shape for the game.
“This is our first engagement in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers but that doesn’t send us into panic mood.
“We are confident the girls have what it takes to deliver.”
Ethiopia too have been preparing for the encounter and their head coach Samuel Ewunetu Gebrekirstos is hoping for a positive result in the first leg.
“We have been preparing for the last 11 days in Adis Ababa and the team is in good condition for the game, said Gebrekirstos.
“We come here hoping for the very best and we will make sure we will Kampala with a positive result.”
The return leg of this fixture is set to be played on January 26th in Addis Ababa when Ethiopia hosts.
The winner on aggregate between Uganda and Ethiopia will face either Tanzania or Burundi at the first round of the qualifiers.
