Thursday

Rwanda  1-0  Tanzania

Uganda   1-0  Kenya

ALICE Kalimba’s header in the 34th minute was the only difference as She-Amavubi stunned reigning champions Tanzania 1-0 on Thursday to start their CECAFA Women Senior Challenge campaign on a positive note at Kigali Stadium.

The AS Kigali women’s football club skipper came off the bench for injured Edith Umulisa early on the game to hand the hosts a first-half lead they would hold onto till the final whistle.

The Kilimanjaro Queens of Tanzania, who looked disappointed after the game, had a number of goal opportunities in either half but a combination of wastefulness by their forwards and She-Amavubi defenders ensured it ended 1-0 in favour of the hosts.

While talking to Times Sport in a post-match interview, head coach Jean Baptiste Kayiranga congratulated the Amavubi ladies for the crucial victory before warning them that "there is no time to relax”, and "attention is immediately shifted to Ethiopia game on July 23.”

Elsewhere on Thursday, the Crested Cranes of Uganda overcame Kenya’s Harambee Starlets 1-0 to get off to a flying start.

The tournament has attracted five countries; Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Rwanda, all playing each other in a round-robin format to eventually determine the 2018 regional champions – to be crowned on July 27 at Kigali Stadium in Nyamirambo.

Tanzania won the 2016 edition in Jinja, Uganda after overcoming Ethiopia 1-0 in the final.

After Day 1 of the week-long regional tournament, action resumes on Saturday with another two fixtures, with Ethiopia facing Uganda and Tanzania up against Tanzania.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw