FUFA faces key decision as Sheryl Botes’ contract nears expiry

By Emmanuel Sekago

With only Six months remaining on Coach Sheryl Botes Ulanda’s current contract, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) faces an important decision regarding the future of women’s football in the country.

The latest setback came after the Uganda U17 Women’s National Team, the Teen Cranes, exited the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers at the hands of regional rivals Kenya.

The second-round qualifying contest was closely contested over two legs, with both matches ending in draws. However, Kenya progressed on the away goals rule following a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Fufa Kadiba Stadium, before a goalless stalemate in the return fixture at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

The result saw Kenya advance 1-1 on aggregate, ending Uganda’s hopes of reaching the next stage of the qualifiers.

While elimination by a strong Kenyan side is not necessarily a disaster on its own, it adds to a growing list of disappointing results registered by Uganda’s women’s national teams under Botes’ tenure.

Just weeks earlier, the Uganda U20 Women’s National Team was eliminated from the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers by Ghana, another early exit that raised fresh questions about the progress of the country’s women’s football development programmes.

At senior level, the Crested Cranes have also struggled to achieve consistent results during Botes’ reign. Despite moments of promise, the team has yet to make a significant breakthrough on the continental stage or establish itself among Africa’s emerging women’s football powers.

When Botes was appointed in November 2023, expectations were high. Her arrival was viewed as an opportunity to strengthen technical development structures, improve competitiveness across age-grade teams and elevate the overall standards of women’s football in Uganda.

However, football is ultimately judged by results, player development and visible progress.

The reality is that Uganda’s women’s national teams have experienced repeated qualification disappointments across different age categories during the period under review. While challenges such as limited resources, inadequate preparation time and insufficient competitive exposure remain genuine obstacles, stakeholders will inevitably assess whether the technical leadership has maximised the available talent.

The question FUFA must answer is whether the current project has delivered enough progress to justify a contract extension.

Any decision should be guided by a comprehensive technical review that evaluates performance indicators beyond match results alone. Such a review should assess player development pathways, tactical progression, scouting structures, coaching standards, youth integration and the long-term competitiveness of Uganda’s women’s football programme.

If FUFA believes the foundations for future success have been established and that continuity will deliver better outcomes, then extending the contract may be justified.

However, if the federation concludes that the programme has stagnated and that results do not reflect the investment made over the past two years, then a fresh approach may be necessary.

Women’s football across East Africa is becoming increasingly competitive. Nations such as Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia continue to invest heavily in youth development, coaching education and elite competition structures. Uganda cannot afford to stand still while its regional competitors continue to evolve.

The next six months provide FUFA with an opportunity to carefully assess the direction of the women’s game and determine the best path forward.

Whatever decision is taken, it must be guided by one objective: ensuring that Uganda’s women’s national teams become genuine contenders on the continental stage and consistent participants at major international tournaments.

The future of women’s football in Uganda deserves nothing less.