Uganda and Kenya played out a one-all draw in the first leg of the second round for the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.
In the game played at FUFA Stadium – Kadiba in Mengo, Uganda took the lead through Shadia Nabirye but Kenya was able to level matters through substitute Emily Adhiambo.
The closely contested game saw the Teen Cranes of Uganda get ahead off a well-worked move tucked home by Nabirye in the 13th minute.
Immaculate Acen started the move on the right wing, dribbled past her marker before laying up Justine Ayerango whose initial effort was saved by Kenya’s goalkeeper Mishel Okoyo.
However, the rebound fell into the path of Nabirye, who was waiting at the far post, and she seized the opportunity to fire home.
In the second half, Kenya stepped up efforts to search for the equalizer and indeed got one at the hour mark, capitalizing on poor clearance by Uganda’s goalkeeper Aida Maimuna Namuwaya.
The shot stopper moved off her line to clear the ball away, only to gift it to Kenya’s Adhiambo, who hit it first time and went straight into the back of the net.
Kenya nearly won it two minutes from time, when Sheila Atieno nearly caught Namuwaya off her line, but ahead stepped back early to tip the ball over.
The two teams will face off next week in Nairobi to determine who progresses to the third qualification round.
