Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-13 14:32:40
Uganda’s Queen Cranes secured a decisive 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in the U-20 women’s football category at the African Games in Cape Coast, Ghana. The win eliminated Ethiopia from the competition and put Uganda in a promising position to progress further. However, the final spot in the semi-finals among the Group A teams is still up for grabs, and Uganda may need help from the young Lucy team to knock out their archrivals Tanzania in the upcoming match on Friday.
Leading up to the match against Ethiopia, Uganda’s coach Sheryl Botes made a tactical change by bringing in striker Juliet Nalukenge for defensive midfielder Krusum Namutebi. This alteration proved to be effective as Nalukenge’s presence provided a creative spark to the team. With Nalukenge as a false nine, Uganda’s midfield duo of Shamusa Najjuma and Latifah Nakasi adapted to new roles, while captain Catherine Nagadya played in an advanced position behind Nalukenge.
The defensive strategy implemented by Botes focused on neutralizing Ethiopia’s key forward Mesay Temesgen. The team’s blockers were instructed to sit deep and deny space to Temesgen, ensuring a solid defensive presence throughout the match. Nalukenge and Nagadya combined brilliantly for Uganda’s first goal, with Nalukenge providing an assist and Nagadya scoring in the 10th minute. A long-range free-kick from left-back Docus Lwalisa sealed the victory for Uganda in the 30th minute.
Looking ahead, Uganda faces a tough challenge against Ghana, who are currently at the top of Group A with maximum points. Ghana defeated Tanzania 2-1 in a closely contested match. Uganda will need to adjust their strategy against Ghana’s attacking threats and focus on cutting off their supply lines to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
In the Group A standings, Ghana leads with 6 points from 2 matches, followed by Uganda with 4 points. Tanzania and Ethiopia are trailing with 1 and 0 points respectively. The upcoming matches will determine the final standings and the teams that proceed to the next stage of the competition.
Overall, Uganda’s impressive performance against Ethiopia has put them in a strong position to advance in the tournament. With a blend of defensive solidity and attacking flair, the Queen Cranes will look to continue their winning momentum and secure a spot in the semi-finals. The team’s focus and determination will be key as they face tough challenges in the remaining matches of the competition.
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