By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Munuki FC Juba Women Football team, a.k.a “the Snakes,” has failed to beat defending champion, Yei Joint Stars in a return match of South Sudan Women’s Cup played in Buluk, on Sunday.
The first half ended goalless; however, “The Snakes” took the lead in the 60th minute, scoring their first goal of the competition, which was unfortunately not enough to keep them in the competition when Mary Dawa led matters in the 77th minute deep into the second half.
The queen of the match was Marriam Luiz, who scored the winning goal to make it 2:1 on aggregate to ensure that Yei Joint Stars take control of the Central Eqautoria Debry, and she was voted as the best player of the game.
This is the second time the two teams have met in the space of three days; however, the first league ended in a barren draw.
Currently, the top scorer is Wodupai Doris of Al-Wehida FC-Yambio with 5 goals, followed by teammate Wilma Gardon with 4 goals and Dusman Harriet of Yei Joint Stars with 3.
The Yei Joint Stars team will now play against Al-Wehida FC of Yambio in the semi-finals of today’s encounter at Buluk Playground.
Before playing Munuki FC, Yei Joint Stars beat newcomers Bentiu City SC 7:2 on aggregate to pair Munuki FC, who were at the beginning stages of the competition unseeded.
This is the third consecutive year Yei Joint Stars is participating in this competition. They have won it twice since its inception in 2019, and they are looking into adding the third one to their cabin.
In another game played on Sunday morning in the Buluk Training Centre, Al-Whedia FC of Yambio thrashed Newcomers Nile Eagles FC Women of Bor 13:0 in aggregate to reach the semi-final stages of the 2023–2024 South Sudan Women’s Cup.
The First League between AL-Wehdia FC and Nile Eagles of Bor ended 7:0.
Teams that have so far been knocked out of this year’s edition are Bentiu City SC, Munuki FC, Nile Eagles FC, and Young Stars, all from Zone B in Juba, and now Yei Joint Stars and Al-Wehida are the two teams returning from Zone B.
According to the initial fixtures, the Semi-Finals and Final of the South Sudan Women’s Cup, the third edition will be played in Juba, Buluk Training Centre, between the 25th and 27th of April 2024.