Kawempe Muslim Ladies have booked their maiden ticket to the FUFA Women’s Cup final after a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over St. Noa Girls FC in the semifinal return leg played at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The result secured a 3-1 aggregate win for Ayub Khalifah’s side and set up a tantalising final showdown with Amus College WFC.
St. Noa, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, came out with urgency and were rewarded early.
In-form forward Sylvia Kabene, who famously netted a hat-trick against Kampala Queens in the quarterfinals, fired her side ahead in the 13th minute to level the tie on aggregate.
With the hosts looking lively and dominant for large spells of the first half, hopes of a comeback and a maiden cup final appearance seemed within reach.
The game appeared destined for extra time until Kawempe’s impact player Jovia Nakagolo stepped up once again.
Nakagolo, who had scored the winning goal in a replayed quarterfinal against She Corporate, equalised for Kawempe in the 75th minute with a well-placed finish that restored her team’s aggregate lead.
Four minutes later, Agnes Nabukenya delivered the final blow, scoring Kawempe’s second goal of the afternoon to silence the home crowd and effectively kill off any hopes of a St. Noa resurgence.
The 2-1 victory ensured a historic progression for Kawempe, reaching the final for the first time since the competition’s inception.
Kawempe’s head coach Ayub Khalifah, who had earlier admitted his team needed to improve from their first-leg performance, will be pleased with his side’s resilience and ability to respond under pressure.
On the other hand, St. Noa, coached by Jimmy Kintu Mwera, will rue missed opportunities and lapses in concentration, especially after taking an early lead.
In the day’s other semifinal fixture, Amus College drew 1-1 with Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC in Mbale, sealing their place in the final with a 4-2 aggregate win.
Like Kawempe, Amus College will also be appearing in their first-ever FUFA Women’s Cup final.
The 2024/25 final will therefore feature two debutants, with Kawempe Muslim and Amus College each looking to lift the prestigious trophy for the first time.
