Harambee Starlets, Kenya's women's national football team, began their campaign for a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games with a resounding 11-0 victory over Seychelles. The match, which was the first leg of the second round of Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifiers, took place at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. This win marks the team's largest margin of victory in seven years, reminiscent of their 12-0 win against Djibouti in the CECAFA women's championship in November 2019.
The Kenyan team, led by interim coach Godfrey Oduor, dominated the game from start to finish. Oduor expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating that it was a good game and that the players did a great job. He also emphasized the importance of the return leg match, saying that the team needs to secure a good result to advance to the next round. The team's captain, Mwanahalima Adam, and star striker, Jentrix Shikangwa, were among the players who started on the bench.
The goals for Harambee Starlets were scored by several players, including Vallarie Nekesa, who scored two goals, and Elizabeth Muteshi, who completed a brace. Other goal scorers included Airin Madalina, Mercy Airo, Elizabeth Mideva, and Martha Amunyolete. Nekesa opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and Muteshi made it 2-0 in the 25th minute. Nekesa added her second goal in the 43rd minute, giving Kenya a 3-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Kenyan team continued to dominate, with Muteshi scoring her second goal in the 54th minute. The team's coach, Oduor, made several substitutions, bringing on players like Madalina, Airo, and Mideva, who all contributed to the goal tally. The Seychelles team struggled to keep up with the Kenyan team's pace, and their coach, Chris Yip-Au, attributed the loss to fitness and weather issues.
Yip-Au acknowledged that her team started well in the first half but failed to maintain the momentum in the second half. She expressed her team's determination to perform better in the return leg match, although she admitted that Harambee Starlets are a stronger team. The Kenyan team's victory has put them in a strong position to advance to the next round of the qualifiers.
The return leg match between Harambee Starlets and Seychelles is scheduled to take place on Monday. A win in this match will see the Kenyan team advance to the third round of the qualifiers, where they will face either Malawi or Zimbabwe. The team's coach, Oduor, emphasized the importance of securing a good result in the return leg match to achieve their goal of qualifying for the Olympic Games.
The Harambee Starlets' victory over Seychelles has sent a strong message to their opponents in the CAF qualifiers. The team's performance demonstrated their strength and determination to qualify for the Olympic Games. With this win, the team has taken a significant step towards achieving their goal, and their fans will be eagerly awaiting the return leg match.
Key points
- Harambee Starlets defeated Seychelles 11-0 in the first leg of the CAF qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
- The Kenyan team's victory was their largest margin of win in seven years.
- The return leg match between Harambee Starlets and Seychelles is scheduled to take place on Monday.
