Tanzania, Uganda battle to decide CECAFA U-18 Women Champions

The CECAFA U-18 Women’s Championship 2023 will come to climax this evening at the Azam Complex, Chamazi in Dar es Salaam.

Zanzibar will face Burundi in the first match, and the two giants Uganda and Tanzania who are both tied at 9 points will tussle it out to decide who emerges champion.

The Ugandan team under the watchful eyes of coach Khalifa Ayub can afford to pick a draw because of their superior goal difference. Uganda have scored 11 goals and conceded none, while Tanzania have netted six and also kept a clean sheet.

” We know that we must win to win the trophy. The players know what is expected of them and we shall treat the match with a lot of care, ” said Tanzania’s coach Bakari Nyundo Shime who also led the Tanzania team to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India last year.

But Uganda’s coach Ayub as said they will treat the match with a lot of caution because they are battling a home team that will have all the support. “We muist go out and try to win instead of battling for a draw, ” says Ayub.

Tanzania will look to their leading scorer Aisha Juma Mnunka who has netted three goals in the tournament, while Uganda’s four players Kamiyat Naigaga, Shamsha Najjuma, Allen Nassali and Phiona Nabulime who have each scored two goals will also be hungry to increase their goal tally.

The Championship played on a round robin basis kicked off on July 25th. ” We are happy that the Championship has given the youngsters a good platform to get good match practice. It has been a competitive Championship, ” says Auka Gecheo, the Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

After eight matches played 26 goals have been scored, while 14 yellow cards were dished out, and no red card. While Uganda and Tanzania have collected 9 points, Ethiopia are third with 6 points, while Zanzibar are in 4th place and Burundi who have conceded a 12 goals are bottom.