African Games 2023
Women’s Football – Semifinals
Monday, 19th March 2024
Uganda vs Nigeria – 11PM EAT
Ghana vs Senegal – 8PM EAT
Uganda U20 Women’s National Football Team will face a mountain challenge as they take on Nigeria on Monday at Cape Coast Stadium in the semifinals at the 13th African Games.
Nigeria come into the semifinals as favourites alongside hosts Ghana and eased through Group B that saw them beat Senegal and Morocco with ease.
Uganda will be seeking to cause an upset and storm the final to fight for gold.
Coach Sheryl Botes is aware of the uphill task that her charges will be facing on Monday but she believes playing against such teams improves the players.
“This tournament has been beneficial to us because we are playing some of the best teams on the continent. When we played against Ghana the other day, one player came and confessed to me, this was the toughest game she has ever played,” she started.
“I believe we will not remain the same. The exposure the players have got is immense and it only helps us to get better.” Botes noted.
The South African tactician is optimistic that Uganda will put up a spirited fight against Nigeria with the target of advancing to the coveted final still in sight.
“Nigeria is a possession based team, they are not as direct as Ghana and we know what we are up to. We are coming into this game to win and progress to the final and that is the character we have been carrying throughout the tournament.”
Goalkeeper Sharon Kaidu is equally confident that they will put up a good challenge against Nigeria.
“We came here not to make numbers and us reaching this far has not been by mistake. We shall definitely go out and fight and make sure we qualify for the final.”
Uganda will miss the services of left back Docus Lwalisa and utility player Krusum Namutebi who are ruled out for accumulating two yellow cards in the group stage games.
