Uganda Senior Women’s National Team, the Crested Cranes put up a spirited performance to edge Tanzania in an international friendly game played on Friday at MTN-Omondi Stadium.
The team needed to come from a goal down to overcome the Twiga Stars who had opened the scores as early as the second minute.
Oppa Clement had gave the visitors an early lead, heading past goalkeeper Ruth Aturo from close range.
However, goals from Catherine Nagadya, Fauzia Najjemba and substitute Margret Kunihira ensured Uganda earned victory.
Nagadya was one of the four players that assistant coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi handed debuts.
Shakirah Nyinagahirwa, Hadijah Nandago and Samalie Nakacwa all promoted from the U20 team were playing their first competitive game for the senior national team.
Despite going down early, the Crested Cranes remained calm and composed, dominating proceedings with relative ease.
There were chances for Najjemba and Sandra Nabweteme at different intervals but the two couldn’t find the target.
It was Nagadya who levelled matters in the 31st minute with a neat finish from close range.
Najjemba started the attack on the left wing, beating her opponent for pace before laying a cutting back cross for onrushing Nagadya who did no mistake but slot home.
At the start of the second stanza, coach Khalifa made changes, bringing on goalkeeper Daisy Nakaziro for Aturo.
Nandago replaced Nagadya while Kunihira and Fazila Ikwaput came on later in places of Hasifah Nassuna and Nabweteme respectively.
With four minutes to play, Najjemba fired Uganda into the lead,capitalizing on a mistake by Tanzania’s goalkeeper Husnat Ubamba.
Nakacwa’s cross was headed for goal and in a bid to push the ball over, Ubamba instead pushed it onto the cross bar only for it to land into the path of Najjemba who was waiting.
Uganda put the game beyond reach through Kunihira whose intended cross went straight into the back of the net to send the fans into celebrations.
Uganda used the friendly game as part of preparations for the forthcoming Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers.
The Crested Cranes will host Rwanda on 12th July at Kigali Pele Stadium before a return leg six days later.
The winner on aggregate will take on Cameroon at the next qualification round.
The team will travel to Rwanda on Saturday morning.
Crested Cranes Starting XI
Ruth Aturo, Samalie Nakacwa, Sumaya Komuntale, Shadia Nankya, Aisha Nantongo, Shamirah Nalugya, Shakirah Nyinagahirwa, Hasifah Nassuna, Sandra Nabweteme, Fauzia Najjemba, Catherine Nagadya
No Comments yet!