)
Uganda was sloppy in the first leg but still played in Rwanda as they gave away the lead twice as Rwanda forced a three-all draw.
Crested Cranes assistant coach Ayub Khalifa has credited their ability of his to stay composed for 120 minutes as they defeated Rwanda on Sunday in Kigali to advance to the next stage of the 2024 Women’s Olympic football tournament qualifiers.
Uganda was sloppy in the first leg but still played in Rwanda as they gave away the lead twice as Rwanda forced a three-all draw.
)
11:11 - 08.07.2023
FOOTBALL Crested Cranes tactician Ayub Khalifa questions FUFA’s decision to host Rwanda in Rwanda
Uganda does not have a facility that meets the required standards to host their first leg match, and FUFA elected to play it at the Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda.
They needed a 100th-minute goal from Fazila Ikwaput to win the match 1-0 and advance 4-3 on aggregate.
“We got a lot of chances but failed to convert them; Rwanda has improved a lot; they are a different side from three years ago, which explains our pressure,” Khalifa told the media in the post-match press conference.
)
13:44 - 17.07.2023
FOOTBALL WATCH: Prime Minister Nabanjja gifts Crested Cranes players with cash after Rwanda win
Nabbanja, who is on official duty in Rwanda attending the Women Deliver summit, was among the Ugandan spectators at the game and went to congratulate the players upon the win, awarding them with $4600 (Ugx 16,766,310); each player walked away with $200.
“I, however, told the girls to calm down, be more composed to match Rwanda’s aggressiveness, we also added a bit of skill as we passed the ball, and they delivered.”
The Crested Cranes will play Cameroon in the next round as they hope to become the first Ugandan national football (men and women) team to qualify for the Olympics football tournament.
)
Prime Minister Robbina Nabbanja extended her appreciation for the team’s performance by rewarding the team with Ugx 16M, shared amongst the players after the game.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)