Uganda’s representatives at the ongoing CAF African Schools Football Championship in Accra, Ghana, face a decisive day on Thursday as St. Mary’s Kitende and St. Noa Girls Secondary School battle for progression to the knockout stages.
After mixed results on the opening day, both Ugandan teams enter Thursday’s fixtures with everything to play for.
St. Noa Girls, buoyed by their stunning 1-0 victory over defending champions South Africa, will look to secure their semifinal spot with wins against The Gambia and DR Congo.
Meanwhile, St. Mary’s Kitende must recover quickly from their 2-0 loss to hosts Ghana and win both of their matches against Algeria and South Africa to keep their tournament hopes alive.
St. Noa Girls, the CECAFA region champions, made a dream start to their campaign on Wednesday, defeating South Africa’s champions thanks to substitute Grace Kawiino’s strike.
The victory positioned them as strong contenders in Group B, and on Thursday, the Ugandan girls face a doubleheader that could seal their place in the last four.
They take on The Gambia at 1 PM (Ugandan time) before locking horns with DR Congo at 5 PM.
A win in either match could be enough to see them through, but maximum points would guarantee top spot in the group and a favourable semi-final draw.
On the boys’ side, St. Mary’s Kitende suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Ghana in their Group A opener, leaving them with no room for error in Thursday’s fixtures.
The Ugandan giants, making their second appearance at the continental championship, must now beat Algeria at 2 PM and South Africa at 6 PM to stand any chance of advancing.
A slip-up today could spell an early exit for the Ugandan champions.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship offers not just prestige but also significant financial rewards, with USD 300,000 awaiting the winners in each category.
For Uganda’s teams, Thursday’s matches could define their tournament, and their shot at continental glory.
The knockout stages begin on Friday before the finals on Saturday, with Uganda hoping to have both teams in contention.
