As the crisp evening air settles over the capital, a fierce sense of anticipation is gripping Uganda’s football faithful. The Crested Cranes are just days away from a monumental test, and forward Agnes Nabukenya has a clear, impassioned message for the nation: “The team is ready, but they need you in the stands”.
With a coveted spot in the third qualifying round of the African qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games women’s football tournament hanging in the balance, Nabukenya has stepped forward to rally the fans.
The Crested Cranes are set to host Zambia’s formidable Copper Queens at the Hamz Stadium on October 8, before heading to Lusaka for the decisive return leg on October 13.
Reflecting on the gruelling training sessions leading up to the clash, Nabukenya radiated confidence while expressing deep gratitude for the support structure keeping the squad sharp.
“First of all, I thank everyone who has enabled us to train today, and no one has seen their wrists so far,” Nabukenya remarked, capturing the gritty, injury-free determination in the camp. “What I would say is, we have prepared enough as a team. We are ready to play that game.”
The stakes could hardly be higher. Under the fresh tactical guidance of newly unveiled head coach Asefa Firew Hailegebreal, the Ethiopian tactician brought in to replace Sheryl Botes Ulanda for this crucial campaign, the squad has been relentlessly drilling down on the fundamentals.
Hailegebreal inherits a provisional 34-player squad with a singular, demanding mandate, which is to mould a competitive unit capable of neutralising a Zambian side boasting globally recognised international superstars like Barbara Banda and Rachael Kundananji.
Yet, Nabukenya notes that the technical staff and players alike have left no stone unturned in preparing for the challenge.
“We are doing our best in training so that we can get the best in the game,” she said. “As a team, we are looking forward to how to score and how to defend against other players.”
Eager to stamp her mark on the pitch, the midfielder added, “As I mentioned in the video, I am looking forward to performing well in that game and giving all the chance to play.”
Facing a Zambian side with immense international pedigree means Uganda cannot afford a single lapse in tactical discipline or attacking efficiency. To bridge the gap, Nabukenya understands that psychological momentum is just as vital as physical conditioning, which is why she is urging supporters to turn out in numbers on October 8.
“What I would say is, they should come and support us because we need their support so that we can give a lot of energy on the pitch, defend and work hard to score,” she urged.
Fortunately, the Crested Cranes do not step onto the turf devoid of confidence; history and recent precedent offer plenty of reasons to believe.
In their three previous official senior national team encounters, Uganda holds the upper hand with two victories to Zambia’s one. The memory of June 28, 2022, still shines brightly, an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Zambia in an international friendly in Marrakech, Morocco, ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, featuring goals from Viola Nambi (who netted a brace), Ritah Kivumbi, Fauzia Najjemba, and Fazila Ikwaput.
Further back, Uganda carved out a 1-0 win at the COSAFA Women’s Championship on September 21, 2018, though the Copper Queens claimed a narrow 1-0 revenge at the same competition on October 5, 2021.
More recently, inspiration has also trickled down from the national women’s youth team. The Queen Cranes electrified the nation in February 2026 by eliminating Zambia from the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
After securing a tense 1-1 draw in Kampala, the youngsters pulled off a stunning 1-0 away win in Ndola to seal a 2-1 aggregate triumph and advance to the final qualifying round.
Now, the senior Crested Cranes are looking to channel that exact winning DNA as the Olympic qualifying campaign gathers momentum.
Should Uganda successfully navigate the two-legged test against Zambia, the winner on aggregate will advance smoothly into the third qualifying round, where a daunting matchup against either Ghana or Mauritius awaits.