2024/25 FUFA Women Elite League champions St Noa Girls FC have eliminated Finance Trust Women Super League winners Kampala Queens from the FUFA Women’s Cup at the quarter-final stage.
The clash, played on Wednesday evening at the MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo, lived up to the billing as an epic showdown between Uganda’s two reigning women’s football champions.
Sylvia Kabene, already a name etched into St Noa folklore, further underlined her status as one of the brightest talents in the country with a superb hat-trick that inspired a stunning 3-2 comeback victory.
The schoolgirls struck first in the 22nd minute when Kabene calmly slotted home to give the visitors a surprise lead.
But their joy was short-lived. Just two minutes later, Kampala Queens’ midfield engine Shamirah Nalugya levelled the contest with a well-taken penalty.
The Queens then surged ahead through Zainah Nandede, whose clinical finish ensured the home side took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Despite trailing at halftime, St Noa returned for the second half with renewed energy and tactical discipline, orchestrated from the touchline by coach Jimmy Kintu Mwera.
Kabene rose to the occasion again in the 57th minute, completing a brilliant solo move to restore parity.
Her match-winning moment came just four minutes later when she sealed her treble with a composed finish that sent the St Noa bench into wild celebration.
The result is yet another chapter in St Noa’s fairytale season.
After dominating the FUFA Women Elite League unbeaten, conceding just once en route to promotion, they have now knocked out a top-flight side to advance to the semifinals of the Women’s Cup.
This adds to their dominance in school competitions as the side are the reigning USSSA Girls Football Champions and clinched silver at the CAF African Schools Football Championship in Ghana.
Kampala Queens, who have already secured the Super League title with a game to spare, were eyeing a domestic double.
However, Wednesday’s defeat ended that ambition, repeating their pattern of early exits in the Cup competition, having falling to She Corporate at the same stage last year.
