FUFA appoints Firew Hailegebreal Asefa as head coach of Uganda’s women’s national teams until 2029

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations has appointed Ethiopian coach Firew Hailegebreal Asefa as head coach of the national women’s football teams, with his tenure running until 2029.

FUFA confirmed the appointment on Friday and unveiled the new coach at the FUFA Complex in Mengo. He takes charge of the senior side, the Crested Cranes, as well as the Queen Cranes (U20) and the Teen Cranes (U17). He replaces South African coach Sheryl Botes Ulanda, whose contract was not renewed.

Asefa is not new to Ugandan women’s football. He joined Kampala Queens — now KCCA Women FC — in November 2024 on a two-year deal and led the club to the Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League title and the FUFA Women’s Cup before his contract ended in September. KCCA Women described him as a coach who brought leadership and discipline, and thanked him in Amharic — “Ameseginalehu” — when he left the club.

Before Uganda, he coached Ethiopia’s senior and junior women’s national teams. In 2021 he guided the Ethiopian U20 side to the CECAFA title at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

His first assignment is immediate. Uganda meet Zambia in the second round of qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic women’s football tournament. The Crested Cranes host the first leg on 8 October at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, with the return leg the following weekend in Lusaka.

In its official statement, FUFA said it welcomes Firew Hailegebreal Asefa to the national-team set-up and wishes him success in the new role.