Defending champions St. Mary Magdalene Girls Secondary School reaffirmed their dominance in Lango girls’ football with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Adwari SS, successfully retaining the USSSA Lango Zone title they first claimed in 2025.
The decisive moment of the final came in the first half, when in-form forward Mirriam Ajok found the back of the net to hand St. Mary Magdalene a crucial lead heading into the break. Her composure in front of goal ultimately proved the difference in a tightly contested encounter.
St. Mary Magdalene had an opportunity to extend their advantage 15 minutes into the second half after being awarded a penalty. Goalkeeper Ruth Amongi stepped up confidently, but her effort struck the goalpost, keeping Adwari SS within touching distance. Despite the miss, the defending champions held firm to secure victory and cap off another impressive campaign.
Both finalists have now earned the honor of representing Lango Zone at the upcoming USSSA National Ball Games I 2026, scheduled to take place at Seroma Christian High School from April 29th to May 9th, 2026.
Adwari SS head coach Jacob Elap praised his team’s effort despite the narrow defeat, acknowledging the strength of their opponents. He highlighted the significance of reaching the final for the first time and securing qualification to the national stage, emphasizing that his side will continue building for the future. Notably, Adwari conceded just once throughout the tournament—the decisive goal in the final.
On the other hand, St. Mary Magdalene head coach Richard Opio attributed their success to belief and confidence, noting that his team approached the tournament aware of the challenges ahead. Having participated in last year’s national championship as learners, Opio expressed readiness to compete more strongly this time around. He added that successfully defending the title was vital, describing the loss of a trophy as “embarrassing” for champions.
Match-winner Ajok, who netted five goals during the zonal campaign, expressed ambition beyond the tournament. She revealed her desire to break into the national team and set a bold target of scoring at least 10 goals at the national championship. Beyond her personal goals, Ajok encouraged young girls to embrace football, emphasizing its power to create opportunities and expose talent to wider audiences.
With momentum on their side and confidence running high, St. Mary Magdalene now turn their focus to the national stage, where they will aim to translate zonal success into countrywide glory.
