DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA: Uganda’s title defence at the 2024 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship ended in disappointment after the Crested Cranes Thursday suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat to rivals Kenya at the Azam Complex in Chamazi.
The result, Uganda’s second loss of the tournament, eliminated any chances of progressing to the finals, marking a bitter exit for the 2022 champions.
Kenya dominated the game from the onset and opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Diana Wacera, who headed in from a well-taken corner. The pressure mounted on Uganda’s defence, and Dorcas Sikobe doubled Kenya’s lead eight minutes later with a composed finish inside the box.
Just two minutes after the second goal, Violet Nanjala extended the lead with a thunderous strike that left Uganda goalkeeper Elizabeth Nakigozi stranded, making it 3-0 before the half-hour mark.
In an urgent tactical switch, Uganda’s head coach Sheryl Botes brought on Latifah Nakasi for Jovia Nakagolo to try and stabilize the midfield.
Uganda showed more resilience in the second half, managing to hold Kenya for long spells, but the damage had already been done. In the 80th minute, Martha Emedot sealed Kenya’s dominant performance with a fourth goal, burying any hopes of a Ugandan comeback.
The Crested Cranes had started the tournament with a narrow 1-0 loss to Burundi, bounced back with a commanding 5-0 win over South Sudan, but the defeat to Kenya means they finish the group stage with only three points and a goal difference of zero.
Uganda will now face hosts Tanzania on Saturday in their final group game, playing only for pride as they exit the tournament they once ruled.
The hosts earlier on Thursday thrashed Burundi 6-0 to maintain their grip and a perfect start in the Group.
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