Uganda have been crowned champions of the inaugural 2019 COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship. This follows the girls’ hard-fought 2 – 1 victory over South Africa in the final at the St Francois Xavier Stadium in Port Louis, Mauritius today Sunday evening of 29th September.
Goals from Fauzia Najjemba in the 56th minute and Juliet Nalukenge in the 86th were enough to grant Uganda the trophy in the tournament that they participated in as a guest nation.
Kortjie scored the only goal that Uganda conceded in the tournament as an equaliser in the 74th minute.
Halftime ended goalless though Uganda had created more scoring chances only to be denied a lead by South Africa’s goalkeeper Mohale.
oUganda started tue tournament on a low key with a stalemate with Zambia in the first group match before coming stronger against the hosts, Mauritius with a 11-0 victory in the second group match and later on thumped Comoros 20 – 0 in the last group match to meet Botswana in the semi Finals that the defeated by 12 – 0.
Left – Right: Fauzia Najjemba 4, Shakira Nyinagahirwa 3, Juliet Nalukenge 7 and Margret Kunihira 5
Meanwhile, in the 2nd runners up match, Zambia secured a thrilling 3-0 victory over Botswana to take home the bronze medal.
Other winners that made it to the hall of fame include;
South Africa’s Wade as the Player of the tournament
Uganda’s Juliet Nalukenge as the Golden boot winner after emerging as the top scorer with 18 goals.
Uganda’s goalkeeper Daphine Nyayenga secured the Golden gloves after conceding only two goals in the tournament.
Botswana was voted for fair play.
South Africa XI
Mohale (gk), Nduli, Nkhuna, O’Malley, Mzingeli, Marhasi
Wade (c), Carollissen, Galant, Philisani, Gamede
Uganda’s X1
Nyayenga (gk), Akadinda, Akiror, Kunihira, S.Nakacwa, Juliet (c), K.Nakacwa, Najjemba, Musibika, Nadunga
Congrats!!