Kenya’s Rising Starlets put in a gallant performance against Cameroon but the West Africans proved too good to sail through to the fourth round of 2024 World Cup qualifiers
Kenya Women's Under-20, Rising Starlets failed in their attempts to progress to the fourth round of the FIFA 2024 Under-20 World Cup qualifiers following a 6-2 aggregate loss to Cameroon.
The Kenyan girls put in a gallant display in the return leg at Nyayo Stadium on Friday but lost 3-2 and having suffered a 3-0 thrashing in Yaoundé last weekend, it was the end of the road for Beldine Odemba’s charges.
Kenya needed a 4-0 win to progress to the next round where either Congo or Egypt await but found themselves trailing in the opening half when hat-trick hero Naomi Eto’o broke the deadlock.
07:00 - 17.11.2023
FOOTBALL Kenya’s Rising Starlets keeping hope alive ahead of ‘mission impossible’ against Cameroon
Kenya’s Rising Starlets have not lost hope despite needing a 4-0 win against Cameroon on Friday to advance to the fourth round of the 2024 Under-20 World Cup qualifiers.
With the score now 4-0 on aggregate in favour of Cameroon, the home side’s task became more difficult and Odemb’a's halftime pep talk seemed to have raised their game as they equalised just one minute after the break.
Substitute Charity Midewa latched onto a sublime pass from Shaylene Opisa to score past Cameroon goalkeeper Cathy Biya but Kenya were soon pegged back when the West Africans got a penalty.
Tabitha Amoit handled the ball in the box as Cameroon went on the attack and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Eto’o stepped up and converted the spot-kick to make it 2-1 in favour of Cameroon.
18:07 - 12.11.2023
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Just past the hour mark, the Cameroon captain completed her hat-trick in some style. She picked up the ball just outside the box and fired home a thunderous strike that Kenya’s goalkeeper Scovia Awuor could do nothing to keep out.
Midewa then gave Kenya some hope 12 minutes from time when she scored her team’s second following a good ball from Sharon Vidah and Emily Okute should have levelled the scores two minutes later when she fired directly at the keeper on a one-on-one situation.
As it were, Cameroon held on to secure the huge win and progress to the fourth round as Kenya were left to rue their missed chances.
09:00 - 27.09.2023
FOOTBALL: Odemba opens up on tactical masterclass behind victory over Cameroon
Odemba reveals strategic decisions and team spirit as key factors behind Harambee Starlets' thrilling win against Cameroon.
Odemba missed some of her key players with eight of them currently sitting the National Secondary School Exams and the difference was visible from the first leg.
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