Khalifan: Goals got us over line

Uganda coach Ayub Khalifan has attributed his side’s triumph at the inaugural Cosafa U-17 Women Championships that climaxed Sunday at St Francois Xavier Stadium in Port Luis – Mauritius, to their consistency in finding goals.
With little or no knowledge on his opponents prior to the tournament, Khalifan had promised to ride on the strength of his side to deliver the trophy and the decision to ride on the scoring abilities of Juliet Nalukenge and Fauzia Najjemba - who had both been capped by the senior national team - paid off.
Captain and tournament top scorer Nalukenge scored an 86th minute winner to ensure Uganda beat South Africa 2-1 in the finals on Sunday. Not only was it her 18th goal at the tourney but one that ensured that she had scored in every game there.
Najjemba had opened the scoring in the 56th minute after a barren first half but Tiffany Kortjie equalized 14 minutes later.
“Maybe there was a bit of luck but make no mistake, we had to work hard to create it,” Khalifan told Daily Monitor on phone from Mauritius before the team landed home yesterday.
“South Africa were probably the best team of the tournament and had an exceptional player in Jessica (Wade – the tournament most valuable player) but Juliet and Fauzia were scoring goals right from the group stages and certainly had the confidence to hunt for goals in the final.” Khalifan’s side were not only about goals but were defensively solid too, perhaps because their forwards gave sides more to worry about. The solidity paid off as keeper Daphine Nyayenga returns home with the golden glove having conceded just twice in five games.
Nyayenga emulates Crested Cranes keeper Ruth Aturo, who got the glove when Uganda won bronze at the senior Cosafa tourney last year.

Finals Results
Uganda 2-1 South Africa
Champions: Uganda
Silver: South Africa
Bronze: Zambia
Fair Play: Botswana
MVP: Jessica Wade (South Africa)
Top scorer: Juliet Nalukenge
Golden glove: Daphine Nyayenga