Uganda, Tanzania look to firm up Olympic ticket chase

• Both teams carry 2-0 leads from the first leg matches at home
• Tanzania had beaten Botswana
• Uganda overcame Cameroon at Njeru

Uganda and Tanzania continued to put objectivity in their bids for maiden qualification to the Olympic Games, as they picked first leg victories in the second round qualification matches for Paris 2024.

Tanzania were 2-0 winners at home, while Uganda beat Cameroon by the same margin at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

In Dar es Salaam, Opa Clement and Aisha Masaka got the goals for the home girls, as they kept a vital clean sheet heading into next weekend’s return fixture in Gaborone.

Head coach Bakari Shime was delighted with the performance of his girls, but said the tie is far from over.

“We played really well and the most important thing is that we kept a clean sheet. We also maintained our structure really well and played according to how we had planned. The tie is not yet over and we must maintain the focus heading into the second leg which will be even tougher,” noted the tactician.

The home girls found the back of the net very early in the game when Clement converted from the penalty spot after she had been fouled.

Goal gave them confidence 

The goal gave them a bit of confidence and settled into the match well. They however had to wait until the 85th minute before they got the second goal when Masaka tapped home from close range.

Meanwhile, Cameroon endured yet another difficult trip to East Africa, as the Indomitable Lionesses were beaten 2-0 by Uganda’s Crested Cranes.

Uganda’s Crested Cranes celebrate their win over Cameroon. PHOTO/FUFA

Cameroon were recently bundled out of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by Kenya’s Harambee Starlets, and now stare at another exit from a major competition, unless they conjure a big result in the return tie at home next week.

Catherine Nagadya and Fazila Ikwaput were on target for the home girls, as they made yet another step in hunting for a first ever qualification to the Olympic Games.

Nagadya fired Uganda into the lead in the 11th minute capitalizing on a goalkeeping howler by Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina. She fumbled with Shamirah Nalugya’s ferocious strike from free kick and spilled the ball into the path of Nagadya who fired home from the rebound.

Cameroon with a glorious chance 

Cameroon had a glorious chance to level matters on the half hour mark when they were awarded a penalty after defender Justine Najjuko handled the ball in the box. However, skipper Ajara Nchout Njoya saw her penalty saved by the keeper and the rebound blazed over the bar.

Uganda dominated the game in the second half and 13 minutes to time, they sealed the win when Ikwaput fired home after her initial two efforts were blocked by the defense line.

Cameroon made attempts to try and get back into the game, but the home girls were resilient, guarding their rear with vigor, to ensure they heads to Douala for the return fixture with a good scoreline to guard.