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Namibia job possible for Teen Cranes

Agnes Nabukenya celebrates a goal against Cameroon. PHOTO/JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
The two sides lock horns on Thursday in the first leg of the first round which Namibia elected to host at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo. On Sunday, Uganda will host the second leg at the same venue.
National women’s teams coach Sheryl Botes believes her Teen Cranes have enough within them to see off Namibia in the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The two sides lock horns on Thursday in the first leg of the first round which Namibia elected to host at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo. On Sunday, Uganda will host the second leg at the same venue.
“We have remained with good players in camp,” Botes said after she reduced numbers from the 39 summoned at the beginning of last week to 25.
Interestingly, some of those include players she has used before like defenders Jazira Amiya from Amus College and Joyce Kainza from Byafaayo Queens, Amus midfielder Shafiga Tamisi and Rines SS’ Bushira Nalunkuuma. Amiya, Tamisi and their clubmate Shayline Ikalakala have taken the topflight Fufa Women Super League (FWSL) by storm in their first season.
“We have released some really good players but some are injured and we cannot help them recover in the very short time left. We have recommended that they get treated at (Fufa partner) St. Catherine Hospital.
“However, we have given them the motivation that if we beat Namibia, they will be back to compete to play against Kenya,” Botes said.
Botes sees that the remaining group has remained focused on handling the job at hand.
“Most of them are looking good and just happy to have made the 25 but most importantly, they know what is at task and what we are up against. So, we are constantly giving them confidence and belief that beating Namibia is possible,” Botes said after their video session on Sunday at their base at Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru.
Fifa U-17 World Cup Qualifiers
First round at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo
First leg (January 16): Namibia vs. Uganda
Second leg (January 19): Uganda vs. Namibia
Second round: Namibia/Uganda vs. Kenya, March 7-16, 2025
Third round: April 18-20, 2025
Fourth round: April 25-27, 2025
Final tournament: October 17 – November 4
Dropped:
Goalkeeper: Maimuna Namuwaya (St. Noa Girls SS)
Defenders: Jazira Amiya, Shayline Ikalakala (Amus College), Judith Agwang (Lubaga Girls), Joyce Kainza (Byafaayo Queens)
Midfielders: Shafiga Tamisi (Amus), Bushira Nalunkuuma (Rines), Catherine Nabaweesi (Highway), Sheila Mungutimu (Boni Consili), Gift Nabukenya (Nkooma SS), Vanessa Namazzi (Kawempe Muslim)
Forward: Rinah Nakandi (Highway Ladies)