Tanzania stop Ethiopia to reclaim lead in CECAFA U-18 Women’s Championship

Hosts Tanzania have stopped Ethiopia 2-0 to reclaim their lead on the log in the on-going CECAFA U-18 Women’s Championship.

The Zonal tournament that has attracted five team is being played on a round robin basis where the best team with more points will be crowned champions.

In the first match played on Thursday Uganda beat Zanzibar 3-0 to temporarily go top of the table. Brenda Nanyana, Angnes Nabukenya and a penalty converted by Phiona Nabulime were enough to ensure Uganda picked maximum point at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.

Later the hosts Tanzania defeated Ethiopia 2-0. The home side started the match on a high putting the Ethiopian defenders under a lot of pressure.

The hunger for early goals paid off after skipper Noela Patrick Luhala gave them the lead after 14 minutes. She made no mistake from close range scoring past the Ethiopian goalkeeper Abeba Ajibo Afa.

Ethiopia tried to regroup, but failed to hold the mid field together. After 38 minutes Tanzania’s goalkeeper Husna Zuberi Mtunda saved a free kick takend by Mehelet Bekele.

After several attacks by the Tanzanian team in the second half, Ethiopia again came close to scoring the equaliser, but Emush Daniel Dandamo’s chip over the goalkeeper missed by inches. Aisha Juma Mnunka made it 2-0 for Tanzania after 76 minutes with a tap-in after the Ethiopian goalkeeper and defender Senayt Shego Shanko failed to communicate well.

Bakari Nyundo Shime, the Tanzanian coach said he was happy with the way his players approached the match against a strong Ethiopian side. ” We need to keep working hard because we have won two matches and have two more matches to go, ” added Shime.

Tanzania now top the log with six points and five goals scored, while Uganda are second with the same number of goals, but scored four goals.

Action returns on July 30th with Ethiopia facing Burundi, and Zanzibar taking on Tanzania in the second match.