After winning the regional championship, the girls will gear up for the forthcoming African Women Cup of Nations. The team has always regarded the regional champions as being part of the preparations for the continental Championship, slated for next month in Morocco.
Uganda’s National Women’s Football team, the Crested
Cranes has won the CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship after defeating Burundi 3-1 in the final of the tournament staged at FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.
The final of the championship was graced by the speaker
of the parliament of Uganda Rt. Hon Anita Among. Now, in front of thousands of
fans who gathered in Njeru to cheer the home girls tussle it out with one
of the region’s giants, Coach George William Lutalo’s team produced another masterpiece
performance to win the eleven-day championship.
After the triumph in both their previous games, the home
girls were already fired up to see Burundi off. Striker Sandra Nabweteme put
Uganda in the lead in the second minute of the game, before Fazila Ikwaput
doubled the lead, just a minute to half time break.
But Uganda had several attempts
at the opponent’s goal through Fazila Ikwaput, Sandra Nabweteme, and captain
Hasifa Nassuna but they all failed to hit the target. Burundi also came close
to scoring a half-time goal but Charlotte Irakunda’s attempt was denied by the woodwork.
Soon after the beginning of the second half, Burundi’s
Joelle Bukuri capitalized on a mistake by Uganda’s defenders to score a
consolation for Burundi, but they failed to get an equalizer.
Towards the end of the game, striker Sandra
Nabweteme relieved Crested Cranes with a third goal that marked the end of the
full-time report. Before the final whistle, Hasifa Nassuna came close to scoring
the third goal for Uganda, but Burundi’s custodian Amissa Inarukundo stopped her
long-range free-kick.
To qualify for the final, Uganda ejected Ethiopia in
another mouth-watering clash that was played up to the extra time after ending
the normal time in a goalless draw. Fortunately then, Striker Fazila Ikwaput scored
Uganda’s goal in the 115th minute to book a slot in the final while
Burundi defeated Tanzania 2-1.
Uganda’s goalkeeper, Daisy Nakaziro
was awarded the best goal-keeper, Tanzania’s striker Clement Tukumbuke was the tournament’s
top score while Uganda’s Fazila Ikwaput was the tournament’s most valuable
player.
After winning the regional championship, the girls
will gear up for the forthcoming African Women Cup of Nations. Team Head Coach Goerge William Lutalo has oftentimes been vocal on the regional champions being part of the
preparations for the continental Championship. The two finalists had earlier qualified
for the continental championship slated for next month in Morocco.
Speaking to URN, several Crested Cranes fans applauded
the girls for their spirited fight. Steven Kavuma from Kampala said he was
happy with the performance of the team, but he asked the technical bench to improve
the physical ability of the players.
//Cue in; nze nviride kampala ...//
Cue out: ..kyona ekigenda maaso,"//
Bisaso Samuel, from Nankwanga, said that the local soccer
governing body should prioritize women’s football because of the girls’ performance.
