Substitute Ikwaput Fazila came from the bench to score the lone goal that helped Uganda to beat Rwanda 1-0 in extra time on Sunday, July 16, at Kigali Pele Stadium and advance to the next phase of the 2024 Olympic Games women's football qualifiers on a 4-3-win on aggregate. The East African rivals played out a goalless draw after 90 minutes of regular time before they headed into extra time holding a 3-3 draw after two legs of the qualification round. The game started brightly as both teams played with high intensity but it was Uganda who had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute. Fauzia Najjemba was superbly played through but Rwanda Women goalkeeper Angeline Ndakimana was at hand to deny her the first goal with an outstanding save. Uganda began to use some pressing against Rwandan defense from the vital area as they launched most of their attacks from the right. Louise Mukahirwa brought down Nasuna Hafisah some few metres behind the penalty box after 11 minutes but the visitors did not make good use of the free kick. Rwanda started to adapt to the game from the 17th minute as striker Florence Imanizabayo posed a series of attacking threats against the Crested Cranes’ back four. The Rwandan attacker used her footwork to great effect which the Ugandans struggled to handle. Uganda could have opened the scores in the 19th minute after Nasuna Hafisah run through the Rwandan defense before laying a tailor measured pass to Shakira Nyinagahirwa but the striker was not fast enough to beat goalkeeper Angeline Ndakimana to the ball as the latter came fast to the rescue. Rwanda brought on Zawadi Usanase for Umwali Uwase in a tactical substitution as coach Grace Nyinawumuntu was seeking to reinforce her attack. Ndakimana kept her side in the game with spectacular saves in the 34th, 38th and 45th minutes to save the day for the home side at half time. Back to the second half, Rwanda Women were pegged into their own half shortly after Uganda Women coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi brought on Ikwaput Fazila for Najemba Fauzi. She could have scored in the 47th minute as she hit the crossbar. The Ugandans also relied on Sandra Nabweteme who was playing in a more advanced role on the left wing. She was a pretty dangerous threat to Rwandan defenders but they did all they could to keep her at bay. Rwanda Women thought they had broken the deadlock when Lydia Uzayisenga found the back of the net in the 73rd minute but the goal was disallowed after Dorothe Mukeshimana was whistled for offside. Uganda increased pressure on Rwanda with some dangerous attacks in the penalty area but they could not find the cutting edge as Andersene Uwase and goalkeeper Ndakimana showed real class by keeping Ikwaput and Nabweteme at bay. Rwanda surged forward in the final five minutes of the game but it yielded no dividends as regulation time ended goalless and, with the aggregate score being 3-3, the game headed to 30 minutes of extra time. Uganda found the back of the net in the 101st minute through Ikwaput Fazila who powered a low grounder to the far post after she found herself unmarked in the 18-yard box. One could easily see fatigue in the play of the Rwandans as they could not put in much energy in an attempt to force an equalizer. The Crested Cranes stood by their goal until the last minute of the game to win the tie 4-3 on aggregate and thus set a date with Cameroon in the next round of the Paris 2024 Games qualifiers.
