Zimbabwe’s women’s field hockey team recorded their first win at the Africa Cup of Nations championships in Accra, with a dominant 5-0 win against Uganda on Tuesday morning.
After getting their campaign off to a difficult start with a 3-0 defeat against the pre-tournament favourites South Africa on Monday, the Zimbabwean ladies were eager to get their first win against Uganda.
Uganda were also desperate to get back to winning ways after succumbing to a 3-0 loss to Namibia in their first match on Monday but in the end it was the Zimbabwean ladies who proved too strong in this contest.
Zim Ladies secure their first win at the Africa Cup of Nations, beating Uganda 🇺🇬 5-0
Goal Scorers
28th minute Tino Elijah
30th minute Natalie Terblanche
47th minute Nicolle Grant
52th minute Natalie Terblanche
60th minute Lilian Pope pic.twitter.com/yZhz9enlw0— Zimhockey (@zimhockey) January 18, 2022
And after initially weathering a strong Ugandan onslaught in the first quarter Zimbabwe took control of the match as Tino Elijah hit the opener in the twenty-eighth minute before Natalie Teblanche got the second two minutes later.
Zimbabwe to total control of the match when Nicole Grant grabbed a third for Zimbabwe in a space of 10 minutes to leave Uganda facing an uphill task.
Terblanche scored her second goal of the match in the 52nd minute to put Zimbabwe four-nil up before Lilian Pope sealed the victory with a goal in the 60th minute.
Zimbabwe, who are aiming for a podium finish in the continental tournament will look to continue their good run when they take on their Southern African rivals Namibia in their final Pool A match on Thursday.