DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA: Uganda’s bid to retain their crown at the 2024 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship ended in heartbreak after the Crested Cranes suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to long-time rivals Kenya on Thursday at the Azam Complex in Chamazi.
This was Uganda’s second loss of the tournament and officially ended their chances of advancing to the finals, a disappointing outcome for the 2022 champions.
Kenya took control early in the match, opening the scoring in the 18th minute with a header from Diana Wacera off a corner kick. Dorcas Sikobe added a second goal eight minutes later with a neat finish in the penalty area.
Only two minutes after Sikobe’s goal, Violet Nanjala made it 3-0 with a powerful shot that left Ugandan goalkeeper Elizabeth Nakigozi helpless.
In response, Crested Cranes coach Sheryl Botes made a tactical substitution, bringing on Latifah Nakasi for Jovia Nakagolo in a bid to regain control of the midfield.
Uganda held firm for much of the second half, but the earlier damage proved too much. In the 80th minute, Martha Emedot scored Kenya’s fourth, confirming Uganda’s early exit from the tournament.
Uganda began the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Burundi, bounced back with a 5-0 victory over South Sudan, but their final tally of three points and zero goal difference was not enough to proceed beyond the group stage.
The Crested Cranes will now face tournament hosts Tanzania on Saturday in their last group match, which will be played for pride only.
Tanzania, meanwhile, maintained their dominant form with a 6-0 demolition of Burundi earlier on Thursday, staying perfect in the group.
