Elite Officiating Crew Assigned for Queen Cranes’ Do-or-Die Match

All Eyes on Kadiba: Teen Cranes Chase History As Match Officials For Ghana Decider Revealed 📸 Mazilitha

Akhona Zennith Makalima in action during PSL Match 📸 courtesy.

The stage is set for a historic evening at FUFA Kadiba Stadium as Uganda’s U20 Women’s National Team, the Teen Cranes, stand just 90 minutes away from qualifying for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.

Makalima Akhona in action- 📸 courtesy.

Ahead of tomorrow’s decisive second leg against Ghana, FIFA has revealed the full team of match officials who will take charge of the high-stakes qualifier.

Leading the officiating team is experienced South African referee Akhona Zennith Makalima. The 38-year-old began her refereeing career in 2011 and has been listed as a FIFA international referee since 2014. A trailblazer in the game, Makalima made history in 2015 when she became the first female referee to officiate in the South African Premier Soccer League.

Her résumé includes several major international tournaments. She served as a Video Assistant Referee at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, officiated at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and has been on duty at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in both 2016 and 2022, among other assignments.

She will be assisted by Zambia’s Diana Chikotesha as first assistant referee, while South Africa’s Maneo Evodia Tau will serve as the second assistant referee. Gloria Keke Sambumba, also from Zambia, has been appointed as the fourth official. Kenya’s Alice Damaris Wangari Kimani will be the match assessor for the encounter.

Diana Chikotesha Assistant Referee from Zambia 📸 courtesy

The Teen Cranes have a mountain to climb after Ghana’s Black Princesses came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory in the first leg at Accra Sports Stadium last Sunday.

Uganda took the lead in the 32nd minute through Kawempe Muslim captain Agnes Nabukenya, who fired home with a stunning long-range effort. However, Ghana responded in the second half. Substitute Priscilla Mensah drew the hosts level in the 58th minute, before Latifah Abesik struck the winner five minutes before stoppage time to hand Ghana the advantage heading into the return leg.

The return leg will be played tomorrow at FUFA Kadiba Stadium in Kampala. The aggregate winner will book a ticket to the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Poland from September 5th to 27th.

With home support behind them and history within reach, Uganda will look to overturn the deficit and make their first-ever appearance at a FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. Kickoff at Kadiba promises to be one of the most significant matches in the history of women’s football in Uganda.