Crested Cranes head coach George Lutalo has praised Burundi’s performance at the ongoing CECAFA Women’s championship ahead of the final on Saturday.

Both Uganda and Burundi reached the final for the first time and will tussle it out for the holy grail at FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.

“Although we defeated Burundi in the group stages, I believe that they have had a good tournament,” Lutalo said ahead of the game before adding.

“Burundi reaching the final proves how a good team they are and the fact that they lost the last time we meet will give them more courage, they will want to win this time around.”

“They are the only team that has scored us and they scored first before we came from a goal down to win and we have rectified that mistake to ensure that we do not concede recklessly,” he added.

During the group stages, both hosts Uganda and Burundi were pooled in Group A, and when they met, the former thrashed the latter 4-1.

Despite heaping praise on Burundi, Lutalo noted that his side is ready for the game and he is optimistic about victory.

“Everyone on my team is in good shape and all the girls are ready to play tomorrow (Saturday) and with hard work and togetherness they will produce the desired result,” he noted.

The Crested Cranes and the Swallows advanced to the semifinals of the CECAFA as Group A winners with maximum points and runners-up with six points respectively.

In the semifinals, Uganda eliminated Ethiopia thanks to a 1-0 victory courtesy of Fazila Ikwaput’s 114th-minute goal.

Burundi came from a goal down to eject Tanzania 2-1 through Nasra Nahimana and Sandra Niyonkuru while Tanzania’s goal was scored by Clement Opa.

Both teams will also be East Africa’s representatives in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July and this final proves how worthy they both are as far as representing the region in the WAFCON is concerned.