What Uganda needs to take Women's football to the top - Crested Cranes boss Sheryl Botes

The Uganda Women's U20 team, the Queen Cranes scooped bronze at the recently concluded African Games, to become the first continental accolade in women's football for Uganda.

Under the guidance of the senior national team head coach Sheryl Botes, the Queen Cranes got the better of giants Senegal after post-match penalties.

Along the way, they picked stalemates off Ghana and Tanzania, beat Ethiopia and suffered a 2-0 defeat to powerhouses Nigeria.

And Botes, who is at the helm of women's technical football in the country, feels Uganda can get to the top.

"I think for women's football to improve in the country, this is the kind of competition that we need," she spoke as the Queen Cranes arrived back from Accra, Ghana.

"We need to play the Ghanaians, the Nigerians almost on a monthly basis in order for us to get to the top," she added.

"And I can promise you that this is only the start, there's bigger things to come to Women's football in Uganda," the South African, who was appointed Crested Cranes head coach last year, added.

Botes has yet to complete a full year in Uganda, yet football among the women for the national teams has realised significant progress.