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English Uganda 1-3 Morocco: Hosts Qualify for Quarter Finals as Crested Cranes Face Early Elimination
WAFCON RESULTS | 05/07/2022
Uganda 1 – 3 Morocco
Burkina Faso 0 -1 Senegal
Uganda Senior Women’s Team, the Crested Cranes suffered a setback in their quest to progress to the knockout stages of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after falling to hosts Morocco 3-1.
Uganda were desperate for a point against the North Africans to keep their hopes of qualification alive following their 2-0 loss to Senegal.
The Crested Cranes are not technically out of the tournament, but a loss against the Atlas Lionesses means the East Africans require a high scoring win in their final game while relying on other results going their way to squeeze out of the group stage.
Meanwhile hosts Morocco are through to their first ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after collecting six points in their first two games of the tournament, scoring 4 goals in the process.
The win against the Crested Cranes ensured the hosts booked their place in the last eight. Two penalties and a freekick were enough for the hosts Morocco to brush off the Crested Cranes in a highly contested game.
The Atlas Lionesses took an early lead through Rosella Ayane who slotted home from the spot. The decision initially went against the hosts, but VAR overturned the ruling allowing for Ayane to slot home the penalty and score her first competitive goal for Morocco.
Head Coach George Lutalo’s side leveled matters later on through Tooro Queens left-back Sumaya Komuntale Atwooki whose beautifully curled shot from a free kick caught out keeper Khadija Er Rmichi, ending up at the top corner of the near post.
The Crested Cranes got the much needed confidence after the equalizer and dominated much of proceedings until the end of half time.
Morocco came back stronger for the last 45 minutes. The hosts introduced playmaker Sanaa Mssoudy on the hour mark, giving the Atlas Lioness a new breath of life. Not long after, skipper Chebbak, who scored from a freekick in the first match, played a beautiful cross which was met by Nesryne El Chad to head home Morocco’s second goal.
Things turned more sour for Uganda when goal scorer Komuntale gave away an inoffensive penalty when her stray arm caught Ayane in the face. The blow coming two-fold as it was her second yellow card and she was sent off. Chizunae Chebbak comfortably converted the penalty to kill off the game in the 84th minute following a VAR review.
Morocco and Senegal are both on 6 points in Group A. Meanwhile Burkina Faso and Uganda have no point.
Line ups
Uganda – Aturo (gk, c), Nakibuuka, Namirimu, Nabbumba, Komuntale, Nabirye, Naluga, Nabweteme, Ikwaput, Najjemba, Kivumbi
Substitutes: Nambi, Ainembabazi
Senegal – Er Rmichi (gk), Reduani, Mrabet, El Chad, El Haj, Nakkach, Amani, Chebbak, Hassani, Tagnaout, Ayane
Substitutes: Mssoudy, Saoud, Jraidi
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