Karungi backs new-look Crested Cranes to rise to Zambia challenge

Uganda Crested Cranes goalkeeper Vanessa Edith Karungi believes the team is ready to rise to the challenge when they face Zambia in the 2028 Olympic Games Women’s Football Africa Qualifiers on Thursday, October 8.

Uganda will host Zambia at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, with Karungi confident that the Crested Cranes can match their opponents’ intensity and get a positive result.

“It’s been great joining the girls. The girls have been great and amazing,” Karungi said.

The goalkeeper is part of a new-look squad that has welcomed several new players alongside some familiar faces, creating a fresh atmosphere in camp ahead of the important qualifier.

“It’s a new team, new players and new faces, and a few old faces. Everyone is so ready to face Zambia and we are pushing every day to do our best,” she added.

The transition has also brought increased demands from the new head coach, Firew Hailegebreal Asefa, with Karungi revealing that the players have been pushed to raise their standards in training.

“The new coach has been so demanding. Since he is a new coach, everyone is supposed to step up their game. The expectations are high and the gaffer is so demanding,” she said.

Karungi, however, views the coach’s demands as a positive for the team, particularly given his technical approach. “He is a very highly technical guy and that is an advantage to us.”

With the match drawing closer, the goalkeeper says the mood inside the Crested Cranes camp remains positive despite the quality of the opposition.

“The mood is high in the camp. The opposition is strong but I know we can match the energy and get one or two points.”

Uganda will need to produce a disciplined performance against Zambia as the Crested Cranes begin their campaign on home soil, with Karungi believing the combination of fresh faces, high expectations and the team’s current mood can help them compete.

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