By John Baptist Opua
St. Mary’s Magdalene Girls Secondary School have been crowned champions of the 2025 Lango Zone Girls’ Football Championship after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Acaba Secondary School in the final held at Ambalal Primary School on Saturday.
The highly anticipated clash, a rematch of last year’s final in which Acaba edged out St. Mary’s Magdalene 1-0, lived up to expectations. Both sides battled to a 1-1 draw in regular time before St. Mary’s emerged 3-1 winners in the shootout, dethroning the defending champions in front of a large crowd of spectators.
Acaba took the early initiative through Dinah Akullu, who capitalized on a defensive error to put her side ahead just ten minutes into the match. But St. Mary’s hit back quickly, with Mary Magdalene Alaro equalizing in the 20th minute to restore parity and energize the Saints’ supporters. The teams went into halftime level, with neither side able to find a breakthrough in a tense and tightly contested second half.
Referee Monica Atim signaled for penalties after the final whistle, and it was St. Mary’s Magdalene who held their nerve, converting three of their spot-kicks while Acaba managed just one.
The victory capped off a flawless campaign for St. Mary’s Magdalene, who finished the tournament unbeaten, scoring a total of 48 goals and conceding only once.
Both finalists, St. Mary’s Magdalene and Acaba Secondary School, will now represent the Lango Zone at the upcoming national championships in Bukedea this May.
