Uganda Crushes South Sudan 5-0 in CECAFA Women’s Championship Comeback

(Tanzania) – The Uganda women’s national football team, known as the Crested Cranes, delivered a dominant performance with a 5–0 victory over South Sudan in their second match at the ongoing CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship, currently being held at the Azam Complex in Tanzania.

This result marked a strong comeback for the Crested Cranes, who had suffered a disappointing loss to Burundi in their opening match. Determined to keep their tournament hopes alive, the Ugandan side came out with intensity and controlled the match from the outset.

All five goals were scored in the first half, with forward Sylvia Kabene stealing the spotlight by scoring three goals — a hat-trick that earned her the Woman of the Match title. Kabene’s pace and finishing proved too much for the South Sudan defense to handle.

The remaining goals were added by Shamirah Nalugya and Zainah Namuleme, both contributing to the team’s commanding lead before halftime. The second half saw Uganda maintain control of possession and manage the game comfortably to secure all three points.

Uganda’s head coach, Sheryl Botes, praised her players for responding well after their earlier defeat. She emphasized the importance of winning by a wide margin to remain competitive in the tournament standings. “We had to win this game and win it well,” Botes said after the match. “The players showed great focus and determination, and I am proud of how they responded.”

The win significantly boosts Uganda’s chances of progressing to the next stage of the CECAFA Women’s Championship, a regional tournament that brings together top women’s national teams from East and Central Africa. For South Sudan, the defeat adds pressure ahead of their next group-stage matches, as they seek to recover from this heavy loss.

The CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship continues in Tanzania with more group-stage matches in the coming days. Uganda’s next fixture will be crucial in determining whether they advance to the semifinals.