South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars produced a breathtaking turnaround to defeat Zanzibar’s JKU Princess 4-2 in a thrilling Group C clash of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers on Monday.
JKU Princess stunned the South Sudanese side with lightning-fast goals in the opening minutes.
Winfrida Mathias struck inside the first minute and doubled the lead just two minutes later, leaving Yei Joint Stars in shock at 0-2.
Despite the early setback, Yei Joint Stars showed remarkable resilience. Grace Aluka pulled one back in the 34th minute, offering a glimmer of hope heading into halftime.
After the break, the South Sudanese side came alive. Immaculate Ambayo leveled the match at 2-2 with a thunderous strike, and Mariam Luiz Lasuba followed swiftly to put Yei ahead 3-2.
The match was sealed when JKU conceded an own goal, handing Yei a spectacular 4-2 victory.
Coach Isaac Lomoro praised the team’s determination, noting that lessons from past experiences fueled their comeback.
Captain Mary Dawa Marco credited the squad’s strong chemistry and unity as key to the performance.
In Group B, Rwanda’s Rayon Sports WFC held to a goalless draw by Burundi’s Top Girls Academy.
Action resumes Wednesday with Eritrea’s Denden SC facing Kenya Police Bullets.
Yei Joint Stars’ celebrations reflected the sheer joy and relief of the historic comeback, proving that in football, the game isn’t over until the final whistle.
