The Ukrainian WU-16 women's team returned from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they became the winner of the UEFA Development Tournament, taking first place ahead of footballers from Slovenia and North Macedonia as well as the hosts.

The head coach of the Ukrainian women's team, Serhiy Sapronov, shared his impressions of the matches in the Balkans on the official website of the UAF:

— The tournament was very beneficial. It is not only about playing practice but also about international experience. Since most of our players had never been abroad before. It's important that for participants, appropriate conditions were created both for training and for games.

— Although the organizers of the tournament could not agree with the weather office, as a snowstorm forced them to postpone the first round matches by one day...

— You know, this even worked in our favor. Unlike Slovenian and Macedonian teams, our team had to travel over 1600 km to reach the venue, and the unexpected opportunity to rest was not wasted.

— Which of the three matches played was the most intense?

— The last one against the hosts, where the fate of first place was decided. Bosnian players went ahead early on by converting a rather dubious penalty kick. But this only added to our determination, and we not only equalized but also scored again. However, the home team managed to level the score once more. When I was already thinking about who among my players would take the decisive penalty kicks, Mariia Kuts, who came on as a substitute, provided us with the desired victory in injury time — 3:2.

— Do you single out anyone from your team?

— I don't practice this, but still, one must give credit to Karina Lesphuk, who scored five goals.

— When will the team gather again?

— In autumn, before the start of the first round of qualification for the 2025 European Championship finals. The core of the national team is already taking shape, but some positions still need strengthening.

UEFA Development Tournament among women's WU-16 teams

April 18, 2024

Bosnia and Herzegovina — North Macedonia — 3:0

Ukraine — Slovenia — 3:1

April 20, 2024

Ukraine — North Macedonia — 4:0

Slovenia — Bosnia and Herzegovina — 1:3

April 22, 2024

Bosnia and Herzegovina — Ukraine — 2:3

Slovenia — North Macedonia — 2:1

Final standings

As a reminder, the Ukrainian WU-17 women's team participated in the second round of qualification for the 2024 European Championship in March. Our players finished last in their group and were relegated to League B.