Uganda’s Lady Doves, Tanzania’s Simba Queens off to flier in Nairobi
Uganda’s representatives Lady Doves and Tanzania’s Simba Queens were off to a flier, winning their opening matches of the CECAFA Regional Qualifiers for the inaugural edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League.
The Ugandan girls thrashed Djibouti’s FAD FC 5-0 while Simba clawed Burundi’s PVP 4-1 in the first two matches of the two-week tournament staged at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.
In the early kick off, Ugandan Champions Lady Doves got straight into the thick of things with Riticia Nabbosa heading the opener after 16 minutes angling the ball home from the edge of the six yard box.
Half an hour into the game, FAD were caught on the counter and a decent drive from Fazila Ikwaput on the right saw her break into the box before she shot low into the net from close range.
The Ugandan representatives went to the break two up and sealed the tie in the second half with three more goals.
Norah Alupo had the simplest of tasks to angle her header home from a yard out after a cross from the right looped over the goalkeeper. In the 64th minute, it was 4-0 when Nasteho Roble Djama directed the ball into her own net as she tried to cut off a cross from the left.
Ikwaput would then put the icing on the cake for Lady Doves’ victory, doubling her tally with a simple finish inside the box after another drive from distance.
In the late kick off, Tanzania’s Simba also started their campaign on a high.
The Tanzanian girls were off to a flier with Danai Bhobho opening the scoring within the first minute before Flavine Musolo netted the second half an hour later for a 2-0 halftime lead.
PVP were back better from the break and had a way back into the game when Nasra Nahimana scored from the penalty spot. But Simba picked the cue quick and got themselves back to their two goal cushion with Musolo completed her brace six minutes from time off the penalty spot.
Aisha Mnunka then drove the final nail in PVP’s coffin with the fourth goal at the stroke of full time.