Akiror penalty wins Cosafa bronze for Crested Cranes

Akiror (L) celebrates after converting her penalty against Zambia at the Cosafa Women Championship in South Africa. The game's solitary 32nd minute goal was enough to swing the third place playoff Uganda's way. FUFA MEDIA PHOTO

KAMPALA-Crested Cranes captain Tracy Jones Akiror deservedly got the goal that won Uganda bronze at the Cosafa Women Championship that climax tomorrow.

 Uganda rode their luck for the majority of the third place off where they beat Zambia 1-0 on a windy afternoon at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 
Despite being on the back foot for the opening stages, Uganda managed to create a few chances in the first half. One of those fell to 15-year-old striker Juliet Nalukenge in the 32nd minute.

 However, she was shoved by a Zambian defender, giving referee South African referee Akhona Makalima, no option but to award a penalty.

 With the slightly ill talisman Hasifah Nassuna starting on the bench for the third consecutive time, Akiror stepped up and found the all-important goal carefully dispatching the ball down to Zambia keeper Hazel Nali’s right.

 Uganda continued to press for another goal before halftime but in vain. After the restart, it was all Zambia as goalkeeper Ruth Aturo was forced to intervene for Uganda at least seven times, from post-match replays.

 While the the official player of the match award could have easily gone to Aturo, handing it to 17 year old defender Shadia Nankya further highlights how much Uganda was pegged back in this game by the wasteful Zambians.

 Overall, Akiror has led the youngest team, with an average of 19.2 years, at the tournament with poise. But it was today, after yesterday’s 2-0 semifinal loss to the hosts that her leadership skills were supposed to face the sternest test. 
But Akiror and coach Faridah Bulega, rallied a progressive team, less than 24 hours after that defeat, to claim their biggest result yet – against a She Chipolopolo side that will compete at November’s Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Ghana. 

South Africa 2-0 Uganda

 GROUP C

Swaziland 3-4 Uganda

*Hasifa Nassuna (2)

*Resty Nanziri

*Norah Alupo

 Namibia 0-0 Uganda

 Zimbabwe 1-2 Uganda

*Juliet Nalukenge

*Tracy Jones Akiror