Crested Cranes Stun Zambia 2-1 to Take Olympic Qualifier Advantage

Uganda’s Senior Women’s National Football Team, the Crested Cranes, have secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Zambia’s Copper Queens in the first leg of their 2028 CAF Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifying tie at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.

The hard-fought victory gives Uganda a narrow advantage ahead of the decisive return leg in Zambia on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

The Crested Cranes were forced to come from behind after Zambia took an early lead through Patricia Chilufya in the sixth minute, putting the visitors in front and giving Uganda an uphill task.

Uganda, however, responded strongly and found the equaliser through Annet Nabukenya in the 35th minute, restoring parity before the interval.

The hosts continued to press after the restart and were rewarded in the 58th minute when Sylvia Kabene found the back of the net to complete Uganda's comeback and put the Crested Cranes 2-1 ahead.

Uganda held on through the remaining minutes to claim a valuable home victory and take a one-goal cushion into the second leg.

The result represents an important boost for the Crested Cranes, who are seeking to progress further in the qualification race for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The qualification tournament is being played through successive home-and-away knockout rounds, with only two African teams ultimately earning places at the 2028 Olympic women's football tournament.

The Crested Cranes entered Thursday's match with confidence from their previous encounters with Zambia. Uganda defeated the Copper Queens 5-0 in an international friendly in Morocco in 2022, while also recording a 1-0 victory over Zambia in the 2018 COSAFA Women's Championship third-place playoff.

The victory also provides a positive start for newly appointed head coach Firew Hailegebreal Asefa, who took charge of the Crested Cranes shortly before the Zambia tie. The Ethiopian tactician was handed a two-year contract by FUFA and is responsible for Uganda's senior, U20 and U17 women's national teams.

Uganda's preparations had been conducted with a strong emphasis on making home advantage count, with FUFA urging supporters to turn up in large numbers. The federation had also confirmed free entrance for the first-leg encounter at Nakivubo.

The Crested Cranes will now turn their attention to the return leg, knowing that the job is only halfway done.

Zambia will have home advantage in the second encounter and will need to overturn Uganda's 2-1 lead to progress.

For Uganda, avoiding defeat would guarantee progression, while a draw would be enough to send the Crested Cranes through on aggregate.

The winner of the Uganda-Zambia tie will advance to the next round, where they will face the winner of the Ghana versus Mauritius/Djibouti tie.

For now, the Crested Cranes have given Uganda's Olympic dream a major lift, turning an early setback into a memorable 2-1 comeback victory and leaving themselves just 90 minutes away from the next stage of the qualification campaign.