The Crested Cranes team that started against Kenya on Thursday afternoon (Photo by FUFA Media)
CECAFA Women’s Championship 2018
Uganda 1-0 Kenya
Stade de Kigali, Rwanda
Thursday, 19-07-2018
KIGALI – The Crested Cranes got off to a flying start at the 2018 CECAFA Women’s championship in Rwanda as they defeated their Kenyan counterparts 1-0 in the opening game of the competition.
Lillian Mutuuzo scored the only goal of the game after seven (7) minutes to ensure that the Crested Cranes set early pace at this year’s round-robin tournament.
Kenya tried to find the all important equalizing goal but ‘woman of the match,’ Ruth Aturo kept them at bay with a string of spectacular saves throughout the game.
Head coach Faridah Bulega called for a couple of changes after the break with Winnie Babirye and Monica Namwase replacing Norah Alupo and Lilian Mustuuzo respectively.
The win felt more like revenge to Kenya who had eliminated the Crested Cranes 1-0 after two legs, from the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers last April.
This is the third time the competition is being played.
Zanzibar won the first edition that was hosted in the same country in 1986 while Tanzania defeated Kenya 2-1 in the finals of the 2016 championships held in Uganda.
Uganda finished fourth in 2016 after losing 4-1 to Ethiopia in the third play-off games.
The other fixture today will see Rwanda take on Tanzania in the late kick-off.
The Crested Cranes resume duty on Saturday against Ethiopia at the same stadium.
The round robin tournament will then see Uganda take on Tanzania on Monday and then Rwanda next Wednesday.
Crested Cranes starting XI
Ruth Aturo (GK) 18, Viola Namuddu 6, Grace Aluka 16, Shadia Nankya 5, Yudaya Nakayenze 7, Tracy Jones Akiror (Capt) 8, Lilian Mutuuzo 17, Phiona Nabbumba 13, Ziana Namuleme 10, Juliet Nalukenge 9, Norah Alupo 15.
Substitutes:
Daisy Nakaziro (GK) 19, Aisha Namukisa 2, Bridget Nabisalu 4, Namwase Monica 11, Daniela Favour Nambatya 12, Winnie Babirye 14, Esther Naluyimba 3
The CECAFA 2018 complete fixture:
Thursday, July 19
-Kenya vs. Uganda – 3:00 pm
-Rwanda vs. Tanzania – 5:15 pm
*Friday, July 20: Rest Day
Saturday, July 21
-Ethiopia vs. Uganda – 2:00 pm
-Kenya vs. Tanzania – 5:15 pm
*Sunday, July 22: Rest Day
Monday, July 23
-Uganda vs. Tanzania – 3:00 pm
-Rwanda vs. Ethiopia – 5:15 pm
*Tuesday, July 24: Rest Day
Wednesday, July 25
-Kenya vs. Ethiopia – 3:00 pm
-Uganda vs. Rwanda – 5:15 pm
*Thursday, July 26: Rest Day
Friday, July 27
-Ethiopia vs. Tanzania – 3:00 pm
Rwanda vs. Kenya 5:15 pm
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