Crested Cranes firm

An inspired start from Uganda secured a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in the first leg of the first round of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifiers at St. Mary’s Stadium - Kitende yesterday.
Uganda, cheered - in a largely empty stadium - by just the few players dropped for this assignment and the U-20 team preparing for the Cecafa Championship due next week, got moving forward from the get go and there was a chance in the first minute for Sandra Nabweteme to shoot from wide after being played in by Fauzia Najjemba.
 
That was the only notable involvement of Nabweteme throughout the match but it was quickly followed by an interchange of passes between a lively Hasifah Nassuna and Sumaya Komuntale down the left before the latter delivered a cross in Riticia Nabbosa’s path.
The midfielder made no mistake as she lofted it past Ethiopia keeper Tarikua Bargena Balcha for the lone goal.

Coach George Lutalo’s Crested Cranes looked charged with Margaret Kunihira leading the press and the rest of the team man-marking the Ethiopians.
The Ethiopians looked hurried in possession while Uganda looked defensively organized.
But with Nabbosa forced off with an injury in the 32nd minute and her place taken by Shamira Nalugya, Ethiopia started to take control and put Uganda’s defence under siege for the rest of the first half.

Emeber Adisu had a shot from distance in the 38th minute rise over the bar. Senaf Wekuma was quickly played in by Medina Busser for another shot but Crested Cranes goalkeeper and captain Ruth Aturo was equal to it.
Aturo also needed to tip over another shot from Busser after a half-heartedly cleared corner from Uganda in the 42nd minute while Loza Abera, kept quiet by the Ugandan defence for the first time in four minutes, had a shot parried wide at the stroke of halftime.

U-20s take charge
Uganda returned recharged in the second half.
Kunihira pressed Birra 
Etsegenet and played in Nabweteme in the 49th minute but the Iceland-based forward ran ahead of the ball.
Lutalo had seen enough and duly substituted her for Juliet Nalukenge to turn to a familiar front three of; Kunihira, Nalukenge and Najjemba - one that has inspired the U-17 and U-20 teams in regional tournaments and World Cup qualifiers since 2019.
In the 57th minute Nassuna made way for Sheebah Zalwango as Lutalo looked for more physical presence in midfield. Nalugya, also from the U-20s, was pushed into attack.

After a familiar interchange between Najjemba and Nalukenge, the latter turned Ethiopia defender Meskerem Kanko to earn a freekick in the 60th minute. Najjemba laid the ball for Nalukenge but the latter slipped before she could take her chance.
Five minutes later, Kunihira was also fouled by Hasabe Muso just outside the box but Komuntale - another of the U-20 girls.