Crested Cranes fall to Burundi in CECAFA opener

CECAFA Women's Championship 

Uganda 0 Burundi 1 

Sunday 18th 

South Sudan v Uganda 

The Uganda Women’s National Team, known as the Crested Cranes, kicked off their title defence at the 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship with a 1-0 loss to Burundi at the Azam Complex in Chamazi. 

This match was a repeat of the 2022 final, where the Crested Cranes had beaten Burundi 3-1. 

The game stayed scoreless until the 75th minute, when Esperance Habonimana scored a free kick to secure the win for Burundi. 

Uganda had its moments, especially in the first half and early in the second, but despite controlling the midfield and making attacking efforts, they couldn’t find the back of the net.

Captain Zainah Namuleme, who led the team onto the field, tried to encourage her teammates, but Burundi’s defence held strong.

Before the match, Zainah Namuleme and Zainah Nandede were appointed to serve as captain and assistant captain for the tournament. 

Namuleme, who played for Makerere University Women FC, brings experience from the 2016, 2018, and 2019 CECAFA tournaments. Nandede, the current Female Player of the Year and a key player for Kampala Queens FC, is her right-hand woman.

Uganda was supposed to start the tournament on Thursday, June 12, but the kick-off was pushed back to Friday to accommodate the late arrivals of teams like South Sudan and Kenya. 

The competition will run from June 13 to 21, with all teams playing each other in a round-robin setup.

The five teams In the tournament are Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, and the host team, Tanzania. Each team will go head-to-head once, and the one with the most points will be crowned champion.

Uganda will play South Sudan on Sunday, June 15, as the Crested Cranes look to bounce back and keep their title dreams alive with Namuleme and Nandede leading the way.