Uganda’s 2–1 first-leg advantage was overturned in Ndola as Zambia won 4–1 to advance 5–3 on aggregate and end the Crested Cranes’ Olympic dream.
Uganda’s Crested Cranes have been eliminated from the qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games after losing 4–1 to Zambia’s Copper Queens in the return leg of their second-round tie on Tuesday.
The defeat at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola saw Zambia overturn Uganda’s 2–1 first-leg advantage to progress 5–3 on aggregate, ending the Crested Cranes’ campaign.
Uganda had taken a narrow lead into the return leg after coming from behind to win the first meeting in Kampala. However, the hosts quickly seized control of the tie.
Zambia opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Natasha Nanyangwe, but Uganda responded six minutes later when Sylvia Kabene found the net to level the match.
The Copper Queens restored their lead in the 22nd minute through Eneless Phiri, leaving Uganda needing another goal to regain control of the aggregate contest.
Zambia intensified their attack after the break, with captain Barbra Banda scoring twice in the second half to secure the hosts’ victory and seal their passage to the next round.
Banda’s brace proved decisive after Uganda had struggled to contain Zambia’s attacking threat, despite entering the match with an advantage from the first leg.
In the Kampala encounter on October 8, Zambia had taken an early lead through Prisca Chilufya in the sixth minute. Agness Nabukenya equalised for Uganda in the 34th minute before Kabene scored the winner in the 58th minute to give the Crested Cranes a 2–1 victory.
The result in Ndola, however, dashed Uganda’s hopes of advancing in the African qualifiers for the women’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Zambia will face Ghana in the third round after the Black Queens eliminated Mauritius 10–0 on aggregate.
The African qualifying campaign features five knockout rounds, with ties played over two legs. The third round is scheduled for February 23 to March 6, 2027, followed by the fourth round in October and the final qualifying round from November 23 to December 4, 2027.
Only two African teams will qualify for the women’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, scheduled for July 11–29, 2028.