It’s CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship 2022 semi finals

The top four teams will this afternoon tussle it out in the semi finals of the CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship 2022 at the FUFA Technical centre in Njeru, Uganda.

Hosts Uganda will face Ethiopia in the first match, while Tanzania battle Burundi in the second semi final clash.

George William Lutalo, Uganda Crested Cranes head coach says the motivation in the camp is very good. “Facing Ethiopia is a tough match, but we are very prepared,” said Lutalo. 

Lutalo will hope that his leading goal scorers Fazila Ikwaput (4) and Sandra Nabweteme (3) can continue with the good scoring form.

But Ethiopia’s coach Firew Hailegebral Asefa has made it clear that they are prepared to fight till the last whistle to eliminate Uganda. “We know they have a good team and also home support, but we are well prepared,” said Asefa.

The second match also promises to be a thriller with Burundi fielding some of their players who feature in the Tanzania Women’s League.

“We know Burundi is a tough team and we shall handle them with a lot of toughness too,” said Tanzania’s coach Oscar Mirambo. Striker Opa Clement Tukumbuke, the leading scorer in the Championship with five goals will be one of the key players to watch for the Tanzania team, while Burundi’s Sandrine Niyonkuru (4 goals) is also expected to play a pivotal role for her team.

Burundi’s assistant coach Jumaine Niyonkuru said his team has prepared well and are ready to go all out and prove a point. “This is a semi final and we are ready,” he added.

To reach the knock out stage Uganda topped Group A with 9 points, while Burundi came second with six points.

Tanzania and Ethiopia finished with five points each, but Coach Mirambo’s team came top because of a better goal difference.

Both Uganda and Burundi are also using the regional tournament to prepare before they play in the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to take place next month in Morocco.