Uganda emerged third at the 2018 COSAFA Women’s Championship after registering a hard fought 1-0 win over Zambia at Wolfson stadium, South Africa on Friday.
Captain Tracy Jones Akiror scored a first half strike from the penalty spot.
Coach Faridah Bulega made only one change from the team that lost to South Africa in the semifinal on Thursday with Juliet Nalukenge starting ahead of Zaina Namuleme.
Akiror fired Uganda in the lead three minutes after the half hour mark converting a penalty following a foul on Nalukenge inside the penalty area.
Despite efforts from Zambia to level matters, the Crested Cranes remained resilient up to the final whistle and registered their third victory in the five games played at the tournament.
Bulega made changes in the second half introducing Hasifah Nassuna for youngster Lillian Mutuuzo and Namuleme for Resty Nanziri.
Uganda played at the 2018 COSAFA Women’s Championship as a guest team and the third East African country to feature at tournament after Kenya and Tanzania. Hosts South Africa will play Cameroon in the final on Saturday.
Zambia missed a number of chances in the game to finish fourth, one place lower than they managed in Zimbabwe 12 months ago.
For Uganda it is a successful end to the competition and the best performance yet from a guest nation together with Cameroon (in 2018 final) since the tournament was first played in 2002, one better than Kenya’s fourth-place finish last year.
Uganda’s Games at the 2018 COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa
Uganda 4-3 Swaziland
Uganda 0-0 Namibia
Uganda 2-1 Zimbabwe
Uganda 0-2 South Africa
Uganda 1-0 Zambia
Crested Cranes Starting XI against Zambia:
Ruth Aturo,Viola Namuddu,Grace Aluka,Shadia Nankya, Tracy Jones Akiror, Lillian Mutuuzo, Phiona Nabbumba,Juliet Nalukenge, Resty Nanziri,Shamira Nalujja
Used Substitutes
Zaina Namuleme, Hasifah Nassuna
Unused Substitutes
Juliet Adeke,Daisy Nakaziro,Bridget Nabisaalu,Norah Alupo,Spencer Nakachwa
