Uganda’s Crested Cranes ended their 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship campaign with a 2-0 defeat to hosts Tanzania, wrapping up a disappointing title defense that saw the 2022 champions finish with just one win in four games.
With no chance of retaining their crown heading into the final group match, the Crested Cranes were playing for pride at the Azam Complex in Chamazi.
However, it was the in-form Twiga Stars who extended their unbeaten run and made a strong case for the championship with a composed performance on home soil.
Opa Clement Tukumbuke, the tournament’s top scorer, put Tanzania ahead in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by the Ugandan backline to net her fifth goal of the competition.
Despite efforts from Uganda, including a few promising runs by Sylvia Kabene, the breakthrough never came.
After the interval, Tanzania tightened their grip on the game. Diana Msewa doubled the advantage midway through the second half, once again punishing a moment of poor defending by the Crested Cranes.
Captain Zainah Namuleme led a Ugandan side that showed glimpses of cohesion and spirit, but the gulf in execution was clear.
Uganda ends the tournament with a record of one win: an emphatic 5-0 victory over South Sudan, and three losses, including defeats to Burundi (1-0), Kenya (4-0), and now Tanzania (2-0).
Tanzania, on the other hand, remain firmly in title contention with three wins from three and a clean sheet in every match.
Kenya also continued their perfect run with a 4-0 victory over South Sudan in the day’s earlier fixture.
Goals from Faith Mboya, Violet Nanjala Wanyonyi, Martha Amunyolet Emedot, and Elizabeth Ochaka sealed a dominant win for the Harambee Starlets.
The final showdown between Kenya and Tanzania, both tied on nine points, will now decide the 2025 champion.
However, the Twiga Stars enjoy a superior goal difference and will need only a draw to lift the trophy.
