Uganda Crested Cranes head coach George Lutalo was full of praise for his players after they managed to win all their three group stage games in the 2022 CECAFA Women’s Championship.

In Group A, the Cranes started with a 2-0 win over Rwanda on Wednesday and thrashed Djibouti 5-0 on Friday, before they came from a goal down to defeat Burundi 4-1 on Sunday.

“We have completed our group stage games against a strong Burundian team and despite conceding first, we managed to win the game,” Lutalo said in his post-match press conference.

“I am thrilled with the Crested Cranes for the wonderful performance in the group stages and I am optimistic that this will carry on to the next stage,” he added.

Sandra Nabweteme bagged a brace, Shamirah Nalugya and Fazila Ikwaput scored a goal apiece while Burundi had netted first through Falonne Nahimana.

In the other Group A game that was played on the same day, Rwanda defeated Djibouti 2-0.

After the climax of the games in Group A, Uganda finished top of the standings with nine points, followed by Burundi with six points, Rwanda gathered three points in third place while Djibouti at the bottom was pointless.

Uganda and Burundi, who will represent East Africa in the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco in July, advanced to the semifinals from Group A as they await their next opponents from Group B.