By 
Riticia Nabbosa and Fauzia Najjemba netted the important goals for Uganda as they earned a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in the first leg of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nation Qualifiers played at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Nabbosa put the Crested Cranes into the lead with a lethal finish following a long ball by Summaya Komuntale early on in the game.
Ethiopia was the better side of the first half as they fashioned relentless attacks onto the Ugandan backline but Ruth Aturo was brilliant in the Crested Cranes goal, denying them on several occasion.
Aturo denied Senafu Wakuma from close range before she was also called into action fee minutes later, parrying away Medina Awol’s shot to the corner kick.
Just before the break, Aturo also saved Loza Abera’s goal bound strike.
The game went into the break with the hosts holding a slim 1-0 cushion over the visitors.
Just like the first half, Ethiopia was the better side of the second but it was Uganda who doubled their lead against the run of play,Najjemba with the superb header into the back of net in the 75th minute.
Najjemba run onto a long Sheebah Zalwago’s defensive spitting long ball.
With Ethiopia pushing hard to pull a goal back at least, Uganda had a chance to extend their lead but Substitute Juliet Nalukenge missed the target from close range.
The game ended 2-0 and Uganda take an advantage into the second leg which will be played on Tuesday 26th October in Bahir Dar in Ethiopia.
The aggregate winner between Uganda and Ethiopia will face Kenya or South Sudan in the next stage. Kenya defeated South Sudan 8-0 in the first leg in Kenya.
