St Noa Girls Secondary School, representing East Africa and Uganda at the CAF Africa Schools Football Championship, have qualified for the semi-finals of the with a perfect group stage performance, sending a strong message to their continental rivals.
The Ugandan side topped Group B with nine points, scoring seven goals and conceding none across their three matches, as they aim to become the first Ugandan girls’ team to reach the final of the prestigious school competition.
St Noa kicked off their campaign with a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over defending champions South Africa.
Super-sub Grace Kawiino announced herself on the big stage, scoring just 37 seconds after being introduced to seal a dramatic win.
Her impact off the bench would go on to become a consistent theme for the team.
On Day Two, the girls from Uganda delivered two commanding victories, thrashing The Gambia 3-0 and DR Congo 3-0 to secure top spot.
Against The Gambia, Lilian Nabukera struck twice, while Kawiino continued her scoring streak with another goal.
The final group match against DR Congo was a showcase of attacking flair.
Midfield maestro Brenda Nasaka finally got on the scoresheet after a dazzling solo run, and her goal was quickly followed by a composed finish from Lydia Namaseruka on the stroke of halftime.
Kawiino, once again coming off the bench, completed the 3-0 scoreline with her third goal of the tournament, cementing her status as Uganda’s top scorer despite not starting any of the matches.
With a semi-final clash against Morocco scheduled for 6:15 PM EAT on Friday, St Noa Girls will be hoping to exorcise the ghosts of Uganda’s past, when Kawempe Muslim fell to Morocco at the same stage in last year’s edition in Tanzania.
The confidence in the St Noa camp is high, and with the team’s dynamic midfield, solid defense, and lethal options off the bench, history could be in the making.
