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The Crested Cranes beat Cameroon 2-0 win in the 2024 Paris Olympic Women’s Football Tournament Qualifiers First Leg at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru on Thursday.
This was the first leg of the tie with Uganda getting their goals through Catherine Nagadya and Fazila Ikwaput.
Nagadya opened up the scoring after she tapped home from close range in the 11th minute after the Cameroon goal keeper spilled a Shamirah Nalugya well taken free kick.
The game was balanced all the way with both sides creating chances but failing to capitalize on them.
In the 30th minute, Cameroon’s Indomitable lions were handed a penalty after debutant defender Justine Najjuko handled the ball in the box.
However Ajara Nchout took it but had her effort hit the bottom left of Vanessa Karungi’s goal post denying the fixture an equalizer before the break only to close the opening half 1-0 .
In the second stanza, Uganda once again came out strong with the front three of Nagadya, Ikwaput and Najjemba piling immense pressure on Cameroon’s defense.
But before it all, Phiona Nabbumba got injured a few minutes after restart, only to bring on another debutant in Jackline Adong just like Najjuko and Zaitun Namaganda who were ejected at halftime.
With 13 minutes left on the clock, Ikwaput doubled the score line to put the Cranes in a comfortable lead at home after some good work by Captain Fauzia Najjemba.
This result means Uganda will go into the second leg with 2-0 advantage, aiming at sealing the win.
The second leg will be played on Tuesday 31st October in Douala, Cameroon and the winner on aggregate will face Nigeria or Ethiopia in the next round.
Twelve teams are scheduled to compete in the women’s football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics. In addition to France, the host nation, 11 women’s national teams will qualify from six separate continental confederations, including Africa
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