Uganda U-20 Women’s National Team, the Queen Cranes, will conclude the group business with a game against tournament hosts, Ghana.

The Queen Cranes have so-far picked four points from the two games played in the ongoing 2023 All African Games. Starting with a one-all draw against neighbours Tanzania they recently secured a 2-0 victory against Ethiopia.

In the press conference shortly after the Ethiopia game, Botes revealed that they need to go back and come up with a strategy that will help them go past a physical team like Ghana.

“Our next match is against Ghana, there is no way we shall use the same strategy [as in the game against Ethiopia] against Ghana so we need to go back and prepare,” she stated.

“Ghana are such a strong team they have physical players and we need to find a way of containing her. They always do all it takes to win the second balls and so we shall try and cut the supply,” she added.

According to Botes, her troops have got to improve on their ball retention if they are to take full charge of the game and dictate which tempo should be used at a given stage of the match.

“We shall definitely change a few thing to match Ghana because their strength is on the wings and we know it. So after stopping them we ought to find ways of penetrating them so that we claim a positive result,” she concluded.

Next on the fixture, Uganda will take on Ghana on Friday March 15 in the final group game.

• African Games 2023 | Result
• Uganda 2-0 Ethiopia 

Queens Cranes finally got off the mark with their maiden win at the African Games 2023 after going past Ethiopia at Cape Coast Stadium on Tuesday.

The Queen Cranes secured a 2-0 victory thanks to Catherine Nagadya and Docus Lwalisa’s goals on the day.

In the first game of the campaign, Uganda thought they had registered a victory not until Tanzania equalised late and it ended in a one-all draw.

Coming into the second test, Queen Cranes head coach Sheryl Botes made only one change from the side that played Tanzania introducing Juliet Nalukenge for Krusum Namutebi.

Queen Cranes captain Nagadya placed Uganda in the driving seat after guiding Nalukenge’s delivery into the back of the net.

Lwalisa doubled Uganda’s lead in the 29th minute from a veracious free kick that went past Ethiopia’s custodian Genet Ermiyas who had slightly gone off the goal line.

Moments later, Lwalisa nearly got a herself a double but her long range effort bounced off the frame before before the ball was cleared away.

In the 43rd minute, Shakira Nankwanga was stretchered off the field and replaced by Namutebi in a forced change.

Before the first half came to an end, goalkeeper Sharon Kaidu pulled off a stunning save as she denied Mesay Temsegen from close range.

The second half was mainly dominated by Ethiopia who were looking for a come back but Uganda’s backline was alert to the threat.

The victory takes Uganda’s tally to four points in two games and will take on Ghana as the final group game.

• University Football League – Results
• St Lawrence 0-0 Kampala University
• Agg: 5-2

St Lawrence completed the semifinal puzzle after eliminating Kampala University in the ongoing University Football League at Crown Campus on Tuesday evening.

The second leg ended in a goalless stalemate but St Lawrence registered a 5-2 victory in the earlier duel that was played at the Prison Grounds, Luzira.

However, credit should be given to Kampala University for the fight put up as they are the first side to pick a draw from that ground in the ongoing campaign.

Shafic Nyanzi came so close in the 34th minute but the header was planted wide of the frame as the visitors kept surviving.

With six minutes to play, Michel Abura witnessed his well-curled freekick bounce off the cross-bar as the hosts kept knocking on the door.

Each time Innocent Matege got on the ball, it was dangerous and a real havoc for Kampala University’s backline who had a tough job keeping the quick-footed forward at bay.

In the second half, the hosts improved their game as they switched the tempo a bit higher but Kampala University’s backline stood tall and firm.

In the final minutes of the game, each side had a chance to take the lead and seal the game but none could place the ball into the back of the net.

St Lawrence now joins Uganda Christian University (UCU), Makerere University Business School (MUBS), and Nkumba University.

The semifinals will kick off on Tuesday, March 10 before it concludes on Thursday, March 28.

UPL | Wednesday Fixtures

• Express vs Wakiso Giants – 4 PM
• Mbarara City vs Gaddafi – 4 PM
• NEC vs Maroons – 7 PM

Express will be hosting Wakiso Giants in the Uganda Premier League at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

The game avails gaffer Abubaker Mbowa a chance to pick his maiden victory since he took over the managerial office at the club.

Ahead of the game, Mbowa told the press that tomorrow’s duel is a do-or-die since his troops have no room for error.

“Tomorrow we are playing a game against Wakiso Giants and I think we have to win that game because we lost my first match in charge against SC Villa at Wankuluku” he stated.

“We shall be the hosts to Wakiso Giants and so it is a must-win and a do-or-die for my second game in charge. The players are ready and some of those that were injured are back in the team,” he added.

It has been a tough second round for the Wankulukuku-based side. In the five games played thus far, they have lost thrice, drawn once and won once.

In their last league encounter, they fell to rivals SC Villa in a narrow 1-0 victory as the backline went to sleep allowing Charles Lwanga to convert from an open shot.

However, the story cuts across to the Wakiso Giants’ who recently fell to Vipers in a 4-0 loss in a game they decided to host at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

In the first leg, the two sides played to a goalless draw bringing a clean slate in this game to see who will take the bragging right.

• Uganda Premier League | Results
• BUL 1-0 UPDF

UPDF secured a 1-0 victory against BUL in the Uganda Premier League at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru on Tuesday.

The loss denied the eastern Giants a chance to get onto the top of the log.

It was a hard day for the home fans who turned up in large numbers with enthusiasm knowing they were playing against a bottom side.

Hussein Zzinda was the hero scoring the only goal that gave the Army side all the bragging rights from the tight duel.

The hosts started on the front foot seeking an early goal but failed to convert two early chances after 12 minutes.

In the 28th minute, Alex Kitata’s header went wide of the frame from Walter Ochora’s long throw-in.

Coming into the second stanza, BUL made a couple of changes as the gaffer introduced Ibrahim Mugulusi and Martin Aprem.

Zzinda found the back of the net with a long header that beat BUL custodian Tom Ikara and Ochora who failed to clear their lines due to poor communication in the 73rd minute.

Four minutes later, second-half substitute Gerald Ogweti was shown matching orders thus sealing off BUL’s horrible outing.

After the loss, BUL remain second on the log with 39 points while UPDF are 14th with 16 points after 21 games.

Next on the fixture, BUL host SC Villa on Friday March 15 in a rescheduled fixture while UPDF will visit Vipers on Thursday, April 4.

Uganda Cranes stars will battle in the Quarterfinals of Africa’s premier club competition, the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

The draw for the 2023/24 quarterfinals has been conducted by the Confederation of African Football and has pitted Young Africans against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The highly anticipated two-legged clash will see Ugandan internationals Khalid Aucho and Gift Fred (Young Africans) play against their former Cranes captain Denis Masinde Onyango (Sundowns).

The first legs will be played on March 29-30 while the return legs are scheduled for April 5-6, 2024.

In other draws, record winners and defending champions Al Ahly (Egypt) face Tanzania’s Simba, ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire take on Esperance de Tunis of Tunisia while TP Mazembe (DR Congo) will battle with Angola’s Atletico Petros.

Semifinals

In the semifinals, the winner between Esperance and ASEC Mimosas face the winner between Yanga and Sundowns and the other semifinal will feature winners in games involving TP Mazembe/Petro Atletico and Al Ahly/Simba.

• African Games 2023 – Results
• Uganda 1-0 Senegal

Uganda edged Senegal 1-0 in the ongoing 2023 African Games at Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana on Monday evening.

This is Uganda Hippos’ second victory in the tournament after beating Nigeria 2-1 in the opening game. This simply means that Uganda has qualified for the semi-finals for the first time since 1999 in South Africa.

Morley Byekwaso made one change from the squad that won against Nigeria as he introduced Shamuran Kamya in charge of Abdul Magada.

Arafat Usama had a chance to score an opener in the ninth minute but the Senegalese custodian Prince Hally Gueye was equal to the challenge.

Left-back Ibrahim Juma attempted a powerful effort from distance but failed to find the target after 23 minutes.

In the 25th minute, Uganda was awarded a penalty after Usama Arafat was tripped in the dangerous area.

Allan Oyirwoth scored from a rebound after goalkeeper Gueye saved the earlier effort from the 12-yard mark.

Before the first stanza ended, Harunah Lukwago was forced off the playing ground due to an injury before being replaced by Apollo Kaggogwe.

In the second stanza, Senegal improved their craft by pegging Uganda on the back foot, unlike the first half.

In the 61st minute, Hakim Mutebi was introduced for Jonah Patrick Kakande as Byekwaso introduced fresh legs upfront.

Thiam Chiekh flicked the ball in front of Uganda’s goal but Idrissa Gueye nodded above the crossbar with 12 minutes left.

Next on the menu, Uganda will conclude the group business on Friday, March 15 as they take on South Sudan.

• FUFA Drum 2023 Final
• Saturday, March 23, 2024
• Busoga vs Lango

Busoga Province and Lango Province will be meeting in the FUFA Drum finals on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

To reach this level, Busoga United registered a 1-0 victory at home as they walked to the final with a 3-1 aggregate advantage.

Busoga will have a big challenge ahead of them as they take on Lango Province, a side that lost in the previous finals.

On the other hand, Lango walked straight to the final after losing to West Nile in the previous edition.

It was sweet revenge as Lango this time eliminated West Nile in the semifinal round.

However, the second round saw West Nile nearly come back as they secured a 1-0 victory.

Shaban Muhammed’s lone strike in the 69 minutes gave West Nile hope but hardly completed the assignment at Green Light Stadium, Arua.

Denis Omedi’s brace in the first leg gave the Black Rhinos an advantage hence guiding them in the finals.

Lango Province will have a big test in the finals as they will be doing all it takes to tame Isaac Waigona who is on stellar form.

• Uganda Premier League | Results
• Wakiso Giants 0-4 Vipers

Wakiso Giants were humiliated by Vipers after a 4-0 loss to Vipers in the Uganda Premier League at St Mary’s Kitende on Sunday.

This is a game that was hosted by Wakiso Giants at Kitende due to the construction works that are going on at their home Kabaka Wakisha in Wakiso.

Fumador Asiwome broke the deadlock in the 15th minute as Vipers took the lead. It was a simple tap-in from Milton Karisa’s cutback.

Two minutes past the hour mark, Vipers custodian Jack Komakech made a full stretch save to deny Rahmat Senfuka’s effort outside the box.

Four minutes later, Allan Okello doubled the visitors’ lead after Wakiso Giants backline failed to clear the ball from their lines. It was the first league goal for the star boy.

Vipers captain Milton Karisa extended the lead at the top of the hour as he connected well with Fazil Tumwine’s well-guided cross.

With a minute to play, Mohamed Salem Ekbad put the icing on the cake as he nodded into an empty net from Bright Anukani’s brilliant assist.

Vipers lie third on the log with 35 points with two games in hand while Wakiso Giants are 12th with 20 points in 20 games.

Next on the menu, Vipers will return to action on Friday, March 15 as they play rivals KCCA while Wakiso Giants will visit Express on Wednesday.

Uganda Premier League | Results

• SC Villa 1-0 Express 
• UPDF 2-0 Busoga United
• Gaddafi 0-1 NEC

SC Villa completed a double over Express with a narrow 1-0 victory in the Kampala Derby.

In the game that was played at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku, Charles Lwanga was the hero with the lonely strike.

It was an even game at the start as both sides chose to sit back as they grew momentum in the game.

Lwanga finally broke the deadlock with a powerful volley as he landed on a loose ball set up by a flick from Juma Ramathan in the 21st minute.

Despite Villa taking the victory, the turnup of the game was so poor and it leaves many questions on what befell the mighty derby.

The victory sends Villa to the fourth on the log with 33 points. That brings them into the title talk as they await to play their games in hand against Vipers and BUL.

On the other hand, it was a brutal welcome for new Express head coach Baker Mbowa who recently assumed office replacing Alex Isabirye.

Next on the menu, Villa will host Mbarara on Friday, March 29 while Express will host Wakiso Giants on Wednesday, March 13.