Tanzania retained the CECAFA Women Challenge Cup which concluded on Friday in Kigali City
Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Queens won the 2018 edition of the CECAFA Women Challenge Cup after thrashing Ethiopia 4-1 on the final match day of the regional tournament which climaxed on Friday at Stade de Kigali.
Goals from Mwanahamisi Omary Shurua in the 46th minute, Donisia Daniel Minja in the 56th minute, Stumai Abdallah Athumani in the 60th minute and Fatuma Mustapha Swalehe in the 91st earned the title for Coach Bakari Nyundo Shime led side.
The victory sent the Kilimanjaro Queens top of the standings joint on seven points with Uganda but with a superior goal difference over the Ugandan side who finished the tournament with a -1 goal deficit.
Losers Ethiopia finished in third spot with six points after playing four matches while Kenya who defeated hosts Rwanda 2-0 finished in fourth slot with four points and Rwanda finished ranked bottom of the standings with four points and an inferior goal difference of a four-goal deficit.
Kilimanjaro Queens opened their campaign on a wrong foot as they lost 1-0 to hosts Rwanda in a game that saw the former squander a lot of scoring opportunities.
The Tanzanian ladies though reorganized to grab an emphatic 4-1 win over Uganda in the second match with skipper Asha Rashid drilling in two goals and team mates Donisia Daniel and Asha Hamza notching a goal each. In the third match, Kilimanjaro Queens were held to a 1-all draw by Kenya.
Accolades
Champions Tanzania claimed the title and a USD cash prize worth USD 2500; Uganda took USD 1500 while Ethiopia pocked USD 1000 thanks to sponsorship from Bank of Kigali.
Uganda’s Crested Cranes Ruth Aturo claimed the best goalkeeper’s award while Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Queens star Fatuma Issa Maonyo won the best player’s award.
Ethiopia’s Meselu Abera Tesfamariam and Donisia Daniel Minja finished joint top scorers with three goals each.
The tournament – which attracted only five countries after other member nations failed to enter teams – was funded by football’s world governing body, FIFA.
Cecafa Women Challenge Cup 2018
Results
Thursday, July 19
Kenya 0-1 Uganda
Rwanda 1-0 Tanzania
Saturday, July 21
Ethiopia 1-2 Uganda
Kenya 1-1 Tanzania
Monday, July 23
Uganda 1-4 Tanzania
Rwanda 0-3 Ethiopia
Wednesday, July 25
Kenya 0-1 Ethiopia
Uganda 2-2 Rwanda
Friday, July 27
Ethiopia 1-4 Tanzania
Rwanda 0-2 Kenya
Team P W L D GF GA GD Pts
Tanzania 4 2 1 1 9 3 6 7
Uganda 4 2 1 1 6 7 -1 7
Ethiopia 4 2 2 0 6 6 0 6
Kenya 4 1 2 1 3 3 0 4
Rwanda 4 1 1 2 3 7 -4 4
