Uganda’s She Cranes delivered a commanding statement of intent at the Celtic Cup on Thursday evening, dismantling Northern Ireland 72–46 at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.
It was a performance dripping with authority—one that underlined the team’s rising confidence and cohesion as this year’s round-robin tournament gathers pace.
President Commonwealth Sport, Dr. Donald Rukare, joined the jubilant camp immediately after the final whistle, congratulating the players on a fully merited triumph that keeps their title ambitions alive.
The match, however, didn’t begin according to plan for Uganda. The She Cranes stumbled through the opening minutes, struggling to settle into their usual rhythm.
But once they clicked, the momentum flipped sharply. By the end of the first quarter, Uganda had transformed an uncertain start into a promising 19–11 advantage.
The gulf in class widened as the second quarter unfolded. Northern Ireland failed to keep pace with Uganda’s speed, precision, and defensive intensity.
The She Cranes capitalized on every lapse, extending their cushion to 38–22 by halftime.
Uganda tightened their grip even further in the third quarter, applying relentless pressure and executing quick transitions to stretch the tally to 55–32.
The final stanza brought more of the same command as the She Cranes coasted to a well-earned 72–46 victory.
Star shooter Mary Nuba applauded the team’s progression.
“We wanted to start strong and finish strong, and that’s exactly what we did,” she said. “We’re improving every game. We still have three more to go, so we keep building.”
She also highlighted areas that still require refinement, particularly decision-making and ball circulation.
“We need to centralize more and move the ball quicker so we can score faster,” she noted. “Thanks for supporting us. Even without a streaming link, we see all your love on social media.”
With confidence soaring and performance levels rising each match day, Uganda now turns its attention to a pivotal showdown against hosts Scotland on Friday, November 28, at the same venue.
Leave feedback about this