Cameroon Dump Crested Cranes Out In Olympic Qualifiers
Crested Cranes Player Protecting the ball
By Emma Amooti
There were tears in Douala as Uganda’s journey in the 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Qualifiers came to an end after the Crested Cranes were dumped out.
In the return leg played at Stade Re la Reunification in Douala, the Crested Cranes succumbed to a 3-0 loss after extra time thus Cameroon proceeding to the next stage 3-2 on aggregate.
Normal time it ended 2-0 hence meaning the game was level on aggregate since Uganda won with the same score line at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru last week.
Ajara Njoya, Monique Ngock and Brigette Omboudou scored a goal each for Cameroon.
Despite bowing out, coach Charles Ayiekho was impressed with the performance of the players and indicated there were a lot of positives picked.
“It hurts that we are eliminated but for the girls to put up a fight against all odds and the environment in which we played, I give them credit. We shall go back and keep working hard and learn from this experience.” He said.
Captain Fauzia Najjemba equally believes as players they have benefited a lot from playing against some of the best teams in Africa.
It is now Tanzania who are the only team from the CECAFA Zone that have qualified for the last round of the 2024 Paris Olympic Football qualifiers.
The Tanzanian team ejected Botswana 3-0 on aggregate, while Ethiopia also lost away match against Nigeria 0-4 with goals from Kanu in 45+1, Ajibade in 50th and 72nd, also Oshoala in 68th, the Super Falcons were ruthless at home with a 4-0 drubbing of Ethiopia to stamp their authority as one of the best women’s football nations from the continent.
After winning the first leg 2-0, the Tanzanian team maintained their good run to score through Belgian based professional Aisha Masaka after 25 minutes at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone.
Bakari Shime, the Tanzania head coach said he was happy with the display because his team followed instructions. ” We now need to prepare well for the next round, ” added Shime who also guided the Tanzania team to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup staged in India last year.
In other matches, the adventure continued for the Atlas Lionesses. After outclassing Namibia in the first leg away from home, Morocco finished the job with a 2-0 victory in front of their fans at the Moulay Hassan stadium with goals from Saud in 76th and Chebbak in 89th while, in the first leg played at the Mathieu Kérékou Stadium in Cotonou, Ghana once again dominated Benin and comfortably cruised to 2-0 victory at home to easily march into the third round of qualifiers thanks to Badu in 65th and Karo in 75th.
Meanwhile, Tanzania will now face African reigning champions South Africa, Ghana up against Zambia, while Tunisia will battle up with Morocco and Cameroun will lock horns with Nigeria in the third round of these playoffs which will take place from between February 19th – 28th 2024.
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