Harambee Starlets will now face Uganda’s Crested Cranes in the final round of the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations following Uganda’s win over Ethiopia on penalties.The qualifying round will be played in a two-legged clash in February, with Kenya starting away on February 14, 2022 and playing at Nairobi just over a week later on February 23, 2022YeeeeeeesssssTough but the Crested Cranes fought on to win on penalties.Congratulations Ladies pic.twitter.com/J9qagMJyFH— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) October 26, 2021 The Charles Okere-coached side had booked their ticket into the final round following their exploits in the initial qualifying round where they heavily outscored South Sudan to book a date with Uganda.Despite taking a comfortable lead in the first leg of the encounter against Ethiopia, Uganda had to do it the hard way at home after going down by a similar scoreline in regular time.F.T#Tunaweza#HarambeeStarlets pic.twitter.com/WJlSK8lCWy— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) October 23, 2021 The 2-all aggregate score forced the game to go into spotkicks to determine the overall winner in the tie, and Uganda emerged.Senaf Wakuma and Loza Abera, who was instrumental for Commercial Bank of Ethiopia at the CAF Womens Champions League CECAFA region qualifiers in Nairobi earlier, scored for Ethiopia in the first half to revive their hopes of making it to the next round.The penalty shootout was not one that either country would be proud of, ending just 2-1 in favor of Uganda courtesy of Hasifa Nassuma and Fauzia Najjemba.Fulltime Uganda 0-2 EthiopiaAggregate Score Uganda 2-2 EthiopiaUganda wins the penalty shootout 2-1Hasifa Nassuna and Fauzia Najjemba converted for Uganda Uganda will therefore face Kenya at the third and final qualifying round.💪💪 Crested Cranes pic.twitter.com/3lltHDsyr0— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) October 26, 2021 This will be a chance for the big Kenyan girls to avenge the deeds on their younger siblings, Rising Starlets, in the hands of Uganda’s U20 side that hammered them 10-3 on aggregate in the 2022 FIFA U20 Women World Cup Qualifiers.Only Morocco have already qualified for the final showpiece on the basis of being the host country, with the other 11 participants set to fight for the spots in February next year.
