After their loss to Ghana, the girls under the stewardship of their head coach Ayubu Khalifa Kiyingi embarked on intense training to overturn the results and eliminate Ghana and qualify for the final round.
The Under 20 National women
team is positive about their return leg against Ghana under the FIFA world qualifiers
slated for February 5th 2022 in
Accra, Ghana.
The girls fell to Ghana 2-1 in the first
leg of the fourth-round encounter played at St. Mary’s stadium in Kitende on January 22nd, 2022. The loss reduced
their hopes of qualifying for their maiden world cup tournament.
After their loss to Ghana, the girls
under the stewardship of their head coach Ayubu Khalifa Kiyingi embarked on
intense training to overturn the results and eliminate
Ghana and qualify for the final round.
Our reporter visited their training camp
at Mutesa II stadium in Wankulukuku. The team captain, Fauzia
Najjemba said the team has gone through enough training making them ready for
the return leg. She explained that they
have tried to rectify some of the mistakes they made in the first leg and she is hoping for the best results.
//Cue in: The other time …
Cue out: … with a win,”//
The return of star striker, Juliet Nalukenge who plays for Chrysomolia FC
in Cyprus has also boosted the
team. Nalukenge missed the first leg after testing positive for
COVID-19. According to Najjemba, the return of Nalukenge is a big boost to their striking
line as they target getting more
goals in Accra.
//Cue in: okuja kwa Nalukenge …
Cue out: … striking yaffe,” //
The team head coach, Ayubu
Khalifa Kiyingi has appreciated
the attitude of his team in the last training session ahead
of their
return leg, adding that every player is showing resilience and confidence as
they visit Ghana.
//Cue in am really very ...
Cue out: .. we face Ghana"//
He explains that he has
put a lot of focus on the striking line to enable his side to convert all the
opportunities they get. Kiyingi
says that his
team has to score as many goals as they can if they are to overcome Ghana.
//Cue in: "My main area ..
Cue out: … get to the field,”//
As the team prepares to depart to Accra on Thursday, Uganda
will need to score two goals against without conceding, if they are to qualify
for the final round. To
reach the fourth round, Uganda eliminated Giants South Africa on an aggregate
of 1-0.
Uganda defeated South Africa in the first leg at St Mary’s
Stadium in Kitende before the two teams played a goalless draw in the return
leg to help Uganda qualify. The qualifiers that started last August with 40
teams are now in the fourth round with 8 teams.
According to the rules of the qualifiers, the best two
teams will book tickets to represent Africa in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
