Lady Doves shakes off Uganda Queens Cranes rust ahead of Mozambique duel

Lady Doves shakes off Uganda Queens Cranes rust ahead of Mozambique duel

Fred Mwambu • 11:54 - 03.10.2023

Uganda will travel to Maputo on Saturday 7th, October for the first leg of the second round before returning to host the second leg five days later at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

Coach Ayub Khalifa has picked a few lessons from the Uganda Queen Cranes' 6-2 win over Lady Doves ahead of the team’s 2024 FIFA Under-20 qualifiers against Mozambique.

Uganda will travel to Maputo on Saturday 7th, October for the first leg of the second round before returning to host the second leg five days later at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

Khalifa is fresh from a disappointing campaign in the 2024 Olympic qualifier

The team overcame Lady Doves 6-2 in a friendly on Monday, with Hadijah Nandago (brace), Magret Kunihira (brace), Krusoom Namutebi and Sophie Nakiyinji scoring.

Khalifa was impressed by the overall performance and team play but noted the two goals that they conceded.

“It was a very good friendly game that showed the girls have matured in the way they handling the game and the way they’re playing,” the coach was impressed.

He noted the gaps: “It was a trial match that has given us many areas where we need to put right. We scored many but conceded two, which means that we must improve on our defence before we go and face Mozambique.”

The winner of this tie will face the winner in the pairing between Senegal and Benin in the third round.

Only two teams from the continent will represent Uganda at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup to be held in Colombia next year.

Uganda Under-20 squad in camp;

Goalkeepers - Sharon Norah Kaidu (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC), Cecilia Kamuli (FC Tooro Queens), Angella Adeke (Royal Queens FC), Lillian Nakilya (St. Noa Girls WFC)

Defenders - Patricia Nakato Nanyanzi (Rines SS WFC), Sharifah Nakimera (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Patience Nabulobi (Kampala Queens FC), Charity Katusiime (Taggy High School), Rebecca Nandhengo (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC), Desire Katisi Natooro (Gafford Ladies FC), Harima Kanyago (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Faridah Namirimu (Wakiso Hill SS WFC), Hasifah Namboozo (Royal Queens FC), Esther Namusoke (Kampala Queens FC)

Midfielders - Patricia Nayiga (Wakiso Hill WFC), Kurusum Namutebi (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Phionah Nabulime (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Agnes Nabukenya (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Immaculate Odaru (Rines SS WFC), Eva Nagayi (Rines SS WFC), Kevin Nakacwa (Uganda Martyrs Ladies FC), Halimah Kampi (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Dorcus Kisakye (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Hadijah Nandago (Kampala Queens FC), Shakirah Nyinagahirwa (Kampala Queens FC)

Forwards - Allen Nassaazi (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Shamusa Najjuma (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC), Brenda Munyana (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC), Kamiyati Naigaga (Asubo Gafford Ladies FC), Sophia Nakiyingi(Kampala Queens FC), Sharon Kanyiginya (FC Tooro Queens FC), Ruth Nyakato (FC Tooro Queens FC), Catherine Nagadya (Kampala Queens FC), Margaret Kunihira (Kampala Queens FC)

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