CECAFA Women’s Championship 2018
Rwanda 2-2 Uganda
Stade de Rwanda
Wednesday, 25-07-2018
KIGALI – The Crested Cranes missed out on all three points and probably this year’s CECAFA Crown when they conceded a late goal against Rwanda on Wednesday.
Faridah Bulega’s charges were headed for victory until Mukeshimana Jeanette scored with two minutes of the 90 to play to level the scores at 2-2.
Initially, botth teams failed to find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes as clear cut chances were limited.
In the 54th minutes, Lillian Mutuuzo was at it again, scoring her second goal of the tournament to put the Cranes ahead, just like she had done against Kenya earlier in the tournament.
With 22 minutes to play, Rwandese Ibangerye Anne Marie squared the game via a spot kick following a foul by Cranes’ skipper Tracy Jones Akiror.
On the 75 minute mark, Alupo Norah handed Uganda another lead with a superb header off a fine ball from Grace Aluka’s free kick.
With two minutes to play, Rwanda answered again through Mukeshimana to ensure that the game ends in a stalemate and in the process put the Cranes hope of a first ever CECAFA crown in jeopardy.
The results push the Cranes to seven points from four games, still on top of the five team round robin table as they await results from Friday fixtures of Kenya and Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
The first fixture of the day handed Ethiopia hope to be among the countries that can win this year’s tournament after a 1-0 win over struggling Harambe starlets of Kenya.
Ethiopia now moves to six points and a win on Friday against Tanzania will elevate them to a first triumph of the competition.
This is the third edition of the tournament with Zanzibar winning the first and Tanzania victors in the second edition held in Uganda in 2016.
Last fixtures on Friday
Tanzania vs Ethiopia
Kenya vs Rwanda
Crested Cranes starting IX vs Rwanda
Ruth Aturo 18 (GK), Viola Namuddu 6, Grace Aluka 16, Shadia Nankya 5, Yudaya Nakayenze 7, Tracy Jones Akiror 8 (C), Lilian Mutuuzo 17, Phiona Nabbumba 13, Ziana Namuleme 10, Juliet Nalukenge 9, Norah Alupo 15.
