Coach Khalifan challenges duo

Uganda is keen on taking part in the inaugural Cosafa Women’s Under-17 Championship due September 20-29 in Port Luis, Mauritius.
Coach Ayub Khalifan is expected to put lots of faith on the striking duo of Fauzia Najjemba and Juliet Nalukenge as he negotiates a group that will have the hosts, Comoros and Zambia, which went to the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in 2014.

The other group has two-time U-17 World Cup participants South Africa, Seychelles, Botswana and Madagascar.

Uganda’s two forwards were part of the team that lost 4-2 on aggregate to Ethiopia in round one of the Caf Women’s Olympics Qualifiers in April.

“It is a good thing that they got the exposure with the senior team but we believe that they fit in even better with this team,” said Khalifan.

“The onus is on them to prove and show their worth among their peers,” he added.
The two must be beaming with confidence; Nalukenge just led Kawempe Muslim to the Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games girls’ football title.

Najjemba, who turns out for Mukono High school and Isra Academy in the Fufa Women Elite League, topped scoring charts at those Games with nine goals.

The southern Africa competition will be another ball game but Nalukenge was also with the senior team when it won bronze in the Cosafa Women’s Cup in Port Elizabeth last year. She actually scored in a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe en route to the semi-finals.

Provisional squad
GOALKEEPERS: Daphine Nyayenga
(UMHS), Zulaika Nyamita (Pride College),
Joan Namusisi (Mukono HS), Gift Nasasira
(Gadafi Integrated), Cecila Kamuli (Kings).
DEFENDERS: Gilian Akalinda (Olila HS),
Cissy Kabarwani (Kings), Maureen Nangozi
(Mukono), Regina Lwetuso (Taggy HS),
Immaculate Abba (Gadafi), Precious Atwiine
(Upper Hill), Aisha Namuddu (Sheema Girls).
MIDFIELDERS: Kevin Nakacwa (UMHS),
Samali Nakacwa, Shakira Nyinagahirwa,
Margret Kunuhira (Kawempe M), Sumayah
Komuntale, Ruth Nyakato (Kings), Sarah
Babirye (Kayindu SS), Racheal Abiyo (Olila)
FORWARDS: Juliet Nalukenge, Hadijah
Nandago (Kawempe), Fauzia Najjemba
(Mukono), Sophie Nakiyingi (Gadafi),
Catherine Nagadya (Katuuso Community
SS), Zainah Nandede,Esther Adokole (Amus
College), Zaitun Namaganda (Taggy), Bira
Nadunga (Olila), Lillian Chandia (Alele SS)

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