WAFCON 2026: Uganda Eliminated by Ethiopia After Penalty Shootout Drama
In a dramatic turn of events, Uganda was eliminated from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after a penalty shootout loss to Ethiopia. Despite holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg, Uganda could not withstand Ethiopia’s comeback, which equalized the matchup before clinching victory in the shootout. The loss marks a second consecutive failure in Addis Ababa for the Ugandan team.
Uganda’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations were dashed following a heartbreaking defeat to Ethiopia during a penalty shootout in Addis Ababa. Despite entering the match with a commanding 2-0 lead from the first leg, Uganda succumbed as Ethiopia fought back, winning 2-0, thus forcing the penalties where they triumphed with a score of 5-4.
The Crested Cranes began the match confidently after their recent success at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, yet history repeated itself. Similar to the events of 2021, when they lost a two-goal advantage in Ethiopia, Uganda’s performance faltered, this time resulting in their exit from the qualifiers after the shootout.
Ethiopia demonstrated their attacking intent early in the match, forcing multiple offside calls. Star player Loza Abera had two critical opportunities but was unable to capitalize, with Uganda’s goalkeeper Daisy Nakaziro, who replaced injured Ruth Aturo, making crucial saves to keep her team in the game.
Uganda, however, had moments of their own, with Fazila Ikwaput’s curling effort narrowly missing the target, and a long ball from Zainah Nandede almost catching Ethiopian goalkeeper Tarkiwa Bergena off guard. The match took a turning point in the 54th minute when Ikwaput received a second yellow card, reducing Uganda to ten players.
In summary, the match highlighted Uganda’s inability to maintain their lead from the first leg, ultimately leading to their exit from the WAFCON 2026 qualifiers. Ethiopia’s resilience was evident as they leveraged their numerical advantage to force a penalty shootout. This match served as a reminder of the challenges faced by teams in high-stakes qualifiers and will certainly influence future preparations for both nations in upcoming competitions.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
