)
Kampala Queens will hope for FAD to pull a miracle and beat Buja Queens for any chance to progress to the semifinals.
Kampala Queens will now get onto their knees to pray for a miracle on the final day of Pool A despite routing FAD Djibouti 6-1 in their final group match in the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League played in Njeru on Monday.
The Queens needed to win and hope other results go into their favour; the first part was done as striker Fazila Ikwaput turned up with her scoring boots to net five goals in the mauling.
Ikwaput opened the floodgates after only six minutes and was everywhere as she set the pace in the golden boot race with eight goals.
Sumaya Komuntale sent a long ball which Ilham Djama fumbled to clear, Ikwaput fired in for the opener.
The striker doubled the score ten minutes later blasting in from a freekick outside the box to leave FAD’s goalkeeper Omar Soubane reeling with pain after spilling into the net.
The shot-stopper failed to recover forcing FAD to an early substitution bringing on Ferouze Houmed.
FAD forced to withdraw midfielder Gouled Idil who was injured for Mouna Dabar.
Ikwaput completed her second hattrick of the tournament on the 28th minute after beating her markers to Teddy Najjuma’s well-weighted freekick, controlled and buried it in to give a 3-0 lead into halftime.
Coach Charles Ssenyange made two quick substitutions six minutes into the game slotting in Sophia Nakiyingi and captain Zainah Namuleme for Hadija Nandago and Teddy Najjuma.
The change added more energy and physique to the hosts as they started charging forward for another goal.
However, while Kampala used the long balls and physique, the feeble Djiboutians had their moment in the sun two minutes later to score arguably the best team goal of the tournament.
Said Neima won a throw-in which she quickly started with Dabar. Zaina Namuleme tried to intercept but Dabar won it back, dribbled the captain and Judit Sanyu then cut inside the box to set up Nadir Nour.
The latter dummied the Ugandan backline and laid for Aden Rahma to bury in from the blind side.
Their build-up play kept earning them support from the neutrals but it was clear that they weren’t fit enough to maintain the steam beyond the 72nd minute.
Kampala had added Hassifa Nassuna three minutes before with the change proving crucial to avert the danger that FAD was starting to pose.
Nassuna won the ball in the middle set up another substitute Elizabeth Nakigozi who went searching for Ikwaput with a long cross into the box.
The striker instead dummied the keeper with her run to make a zero-touch that diverted attention to allow Nakigozi’s delivery to drop into the net for the fourth goal.
Sophia Nakiyingi replicated the same effort a minute laterto lay a long cross for Ikwaput to control inside the box before tapping in.
Ikwaput completed the rout in the 87th with another ferocious effort after Nassuna had set her up with another freekick to close it 6-1.
The Ugandan champions complete their group assignment with seven points and will now pray that FAD pull some magic to beat Buja Queens in the final game of the tournament.
Kq Xi: Gloria Namakula (Gk), Shakira Nyinagahirwa, Hadijah Nandago, Margret Kunihira, Fazila Ikwaput (C), Catherine Nagadya Patience Nabulobi, Sumaya Komuntale, Jamilah Nabulime, Judith Sanyu, Najjuma Teddy
Subs - Hasifah Nassuna, Namuleme Zainah, Nakigozi Elizabeth, Zainah Nandede, Daisy Nakaziro (Gk), Nakibuuka Asia, Patricia Akiror, Sophia Nakiyingi
Fad - Soubane Ahmed Omar (Gk), Neima Said, Ilham Djama Douhour, Hibo Abdi Abdillahi, Ferouze Mohamed Issa, Nadia Nour, Yousra Mohamed Awad (C) Lerman Abdou Sikieh, Idil Gouled Robleh, Rahma Moustapha Ade
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)