Harambee Starlets kick off their bid for a return to WAFCON in essential first-leg qualifier
Friday twenty first February, 2025 07:40 AM|
Listen to This Article
Enhance your studying expertise by listening to this text.
Harambee Starlets start their hunt for a 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) ticket right now, February 21, 2025, with a vital first-leg qualifier in opposition to Tunisia on the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
The nationwide ladies’s soccer group is keen to make amends after lacking out on the final version, however they face a tricky take a look at in opposition to the higher-ranked North Africans.
Coach Beldine Odemba’s costs will probably be banking on dwelling assist right now at 3pm to safe an important first-leg benefit earlier than the return leg in Sousse subsequent Wednesday.
The mixture winner will face both Niger or Gambia within the second and last spherical of the qualification marketing campaign.
The Beldine Odemba-led facet had excessive hopes of qualifying for the delayed 2024 match after overcoming continental heavyweights Cameroon on post-match penalties at Nyayo Stadium.
A match-up in opposition to Botswana was seen by many as a better pathway for the Kenyan queens.
“I can say that we were overconfident during our last qualification against Botswana. Beating a big team like Cameroon, I can say as a team, both the players and the technical bench, we were surely overconfident. We are now working on the mental aspect of the game and our general approach. We are calmer,” Coach Odemba famous when requested about making a distinction on this marketing campaign in comparison with their failed 2023 qualification course of.
This afternoon, Starlets embark on one other ‘tricky’ journey, searching for a grand return to Africa’s elite ladies’s soccer match for the primary time since 2016.
Speaking throughout their last coaching session on the match venue yesterday, coach Odemba stated the gamers are calm however upbeat forward of right now’s essential encounter.
“The ladies are properly ready to play in opposition to Tunisia, and we’re taking one match at a time.
It is all the time vital to gather most factors at dwelling and away, and it is important for us to win this match at dwelling as a result of, more often than not, you could not know the situations you’ll face when enjoying away.”
Harambee Starlets suffered a serious blow following the revelation that reliable right-back Vivian Nasaka (Hakkarigucu, Turkey) will miss the two-legged tie as a result of damage.
“It’s a big blow for us since Vivian has not missed a single match, especially in the qualifiers over the last few years. She has always been there and is a crucial player. Yes, it’s a big miss for us, but we thank God that we have an equal replacement. Those who will be given the mandate are also up to the task,” Odemba remarked.
In Nasaka’s absence, Kibera Girls Soccer’s overlapping defender with scintillating crosses, Janet Mumo, might be deployed in that place.
Farul FC goalkeeper Lilian Awuor is prone to begin between the sticks forward of Police Bullet’s Annedy Kundu.
Skipper Dorcas Shikobe and Ruth Ingosi are anticipated to begin, in addition to Enez Mango.
Immediate former Kenya Under-17 World Cup captain Elizabeth Ochaka can be out there for choice and will make her senior debut in opposition to Tunisia.
“In the first match, those who are ready will play, but for the rest, we have a few days before the second leg to assess them. Just expect to see players who are performing well in their respective leagues and are ready to feature in the matches ahead,” stated Odemba.
Odemba is main Harambee Starlets within the qualifiers for the second time and hopes luck will probably be on her facet for the group’s success.
“Coaching is just like any other job; sometimes you feel pressured, and sometimes you don’t. We are ready for the game.”
Starlets are unbeaten of their final two dwelling matches, successful 1-0 in opposition to Cameroon and drawing 1-1 in opposition to Botswana. Overall, each Junior Starlets and the senior ladies’s group have gone 4 dwelling matches with out tasting defeat.
Ulinzi Sports Complex may turn out to be a ‘slaughterhouse’ for visiting groups, as confirmed by Kenya U-17, who thrashed Ethiopia 3-0 and Burundi 2-0 on the similar venue throughout their historic Fifa Women’s U-17 World Cup qualification final 12 months.
Before right now’s match, Kenya confronted Morocco in a global pleasant final December in Salè, drawing 2-2 within the first sport earlier than successful the second 5-0.
Coach Odemba has thanked native followers for his or her unwavering assist and made one other rallying name forward of right now’s essential project.
“We keep calling on our fans because we count on them, and the good thing is that when we play at home, they are always there. Once again, we urge them to come to Ulinzi Complex to support the girls because they always give us the needed push.”
The North African nation poses a severe risk to Harambee Starlets by way of their FIFA Women’s rating.
The Kamel Saada-coached facet is ranked 78th on the earth, whereas Kenya sits at place 149.
Tunisia is searching for their fourth Wafcon look, having beforehand featured within the prestigious match in 2008, 2022, and 2024.
To qualify for this 12 months’s match, the Eagles of Carthage thrashed Niger 12-1 within the first spherical of the qualifiers and wrapped up the job within the second spherical by defeating Congo 6-3.