Friday, March 4
•Uganda 2-2 Ethiopia
Hadijah Nandago scored a brace but her efforts proved not enough as Uganda squandered the advantage to draw with Ethiopia.
The first leg of the 2022 FIFA U17 Women World Cup Qualifiers ended 2-2 at Kitende, and Uganda will look to make amends when the two sides meet in Ethiopia in two weeks time.
Nandago scored twice in a space of six minutes to hand Uganda a 2-0 lead with 18 minutes to spare.
But Uganda conceded twice in similar fashion, including a late equaliser in added time to gift Ethiopia a needed result on the road.
Nandago’s opener came in the 66th minute when she looped over the keeper inside the box to garner an uproar.
She later doubled the advantage, firing from a distance with the goalkeeper already off her line.
And Ethiopia halved the deficit through Emush Dandamo whose effort eluded goalkeeper Sharon Kaidu.
Kaidu was once again beaten on her line in added minutes in similar fashion when she failed to keep out a swinging effort from Semira Kedir Ahmed.
Uganda will look to make amends in the second leg in two weeks time when the two sides meet again in Addis Ababa.
The winner over two legs will face South Africa in the second qualifying round.
Same Old Story!
Uganda players threw their bodies down in agony at fulltime, reminiscent of scenes back in November last year in Njeru.
Then, Uganda threw away a two-goal lead against 10-man Ethiopia to win the inaugural CECAFA Women U20 Championship at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
Uganda then needed at least a draw to finish top of the six-nation log while Ethiopia wanted nothing but victory to be crowned champions!
On Friday, after a dull first half, two goals from Nandago put Uganda on course to an important victory.
And they had chances to improve the scoreline in between but Sumaya Nalumu almost scored from the corner, Catherine Nagadya and Shakira Nyinagahirwa also saw their efforts saved.
Kamiyati Naigaga was denied a penalty after she was brought down in the box as Uganda tried to find the opener.
Patience Nabulobi was taken off hurt with an Head injury and it remains to be seen if she can travel with the team to Ethiopia.
Goalkeeper Kaidu had given a good account of herself in the opening exchanges; She denied Meseret Mamo Wolde from freekick and had more good saves on the day, before conceding cheap goals.
Uganda were also lucky when Dandamo beat the offside trap in the 18th minute but her effort fired over the bar.
