Monday, March 18
•Uganda 0-2 Nigeria
Uganda’s under-20 national team, the Queen Cranes, missed out on a place in the final at the African Games Women’s Football Tournament after a 2-0 defeat against Nigeria.
Uganda had made a good account of themselves against the defending champions before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.
The match saw Uganda’s defense holding strong against Nigeria’s relentless attacks for much of the game. However, late goals from Judith Okah Adaobi in the 74th minute and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu in the 90th minute sealed the victory for Nigeria, breaking Uganda’s resistance and securing their spot in the final.
Reflecting on the match, Queen Cranes coach Sheryl Botes expressed pride in her team’s efforts, acknowledging the tough challenge they faced against the experienced Nigerian side. “Our key focus was to win this match,” Botes remarked. “We knew it was going to be tough and challenging, facing the defending champions.”
Despite the loss, Botes highlighted the invaluable experience gained by her players, emphasizing the importance of facing formidable opponents like Nigeria for the team’s development. “Games like these put girls under pressure,” she noted. “We gave them a hard time, but fatigue took over.”
The Queen Cranes will now shift their focus to the third-place match, where they will square off against Senegal. With their eyes set on the bronze medal, the team remains determined to finish the tournament on a high note on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s victory propels them into the final, where they will face hosts Ghana. The Ghanaian side secured their spot in the final after defeating Senegal 3-1 in the other semifinal clash.
Uganda had finished second in Group A with five points, including a win against Ethiopia and draws against Tanzania and Ghana.
