Kenya 11-0 Zanzibar: Harambee Starlets' grand march to Cecafa title continues

Harambee Starlets midfielder Mercy Achieng (right) controls the ball during their Cecafa Women Championship match against Zanzibar at the Njeru Technical Grounds in Jinja, Uganda on September 15, 2016. PHOTO | CLIVE KYAZZE |

What you need to know:

  • Harambee Starlets spanked Zanzibar 11-0 at the Njeru technical grounds on Thursday to top Group A with a 100 percent record over three matches.
  • The Kenyan ladies rolled over hosts Uganda and Burundi by identical 4-0 score lines on Sunday and Tuesday respectively in their earlier group matches.

IN JINJA, UGANDA

The national women’s football team will play either Ethiopia or Tanzania in the semifinals of the Cecafa Women Championship on Sunday.

This comes after the Harambee Starlets spanked Zanzibar 11-0 at the Njeru technical grounds on Thursday to top Group A with a 100 percent record over three matches.

The Kenyan ladies rolled over hosts Uganda and Burundi by identical 4-0 score lines on Sunday and Tuesday respectively in their earlier group matches.

"We are playing for every game. We respect Zanzibar as a team but we wanted to win the game as well. I’m proud of my players," Starlets coach David Ouma told Daily Nation Sport after the game.

"This kind of performance boosts the confidence of the team as we go into the tough knockout phase," he added.

Following the loss, Zanzibar finished the tournament without a win and although Ouma rested eight of his first team regulars, this decision didn't stop the title favourites from putting up a splendid show.

Hat-trick hero Christine Nafula tapped in a low cross from Mercy Achieng after 12 minutes to open the floodgates, and 20 minutes later, she curled her effort past Aminah Mohamed with her left foot.

There was time for Nafula to also assist as she laid a cross for Jackie Ogol who slotted home Kenya's third at the stroke of half time.

Three minutes into the second half, Mercy Achieng's good interplay with Christine Nafula had the former grab a fourth.

At this point, Kenya had scored four goals in each of their victories against Uganda and Burundi but there was room for more.

Ouma changed his front three as Neddy Atieno came on for Mercy Achieng, Mary Kinuthia replaced Doreen Nabwire as Elizabeth Ambogo made way for Esse Akida.

Nafula completed her hat-trick in the 68th minute after slamming home a rebound off Kinuthia's free-kick.

Two minutes later, another hat-trick hero Jacky Ogol made it six from 12 yards after a handball by a Zanzibar player in the box.

A minute later Akida made it seven off Atieno's cross, at that time making her the joint leading scorer together with Uganda's Hasifa Nasuna, whose side was yet to face Burundi by press time.

Vivian Odhiambo scored arguably the goal of the tournament after she was released by Akida and left one-on-one with Amina Mohamed in Zanzibar's goal.

Odhiambo rounded off Mohamed before literally walking with the ball past the goal line for Kenya's eighth.

In a similar fashion, Kinuthia was released by Nafula before rounding off Mohamed for Kenya's ninth and her fifth of the campaign – making her the tournament's leading scorer.

Odhiambo then bagged her brace in the 90th minute with a powerful shot from 25 yards, before grabbing a hat-trick in added time which was Kenya's 11th of the match and 19th in three matches.

"We were told to go out there and enjoy ourselves and we did exactly that. We hope to keep the momentum alive going into the semis," Nafula said after the game.

Both semi-finals will be played on Sunday with the final slated for Tuesday as the Harambee Starlets turn eyes on the Africa Cup of Women Championship slated for November and December in Cameroon.

TEAMS

Kenya Starting XI: Samantha Akinyi (G.K), Irene Ogutu Awuor (Captain), Jackline Jumah Akoth, Nixon Dorcas Shikobe, Calleb Teresa Ouko, Jacky Ogol, Mercy Achieng Onyango, Christine Nafula, Elizabeth Mwikali Ambogo, Dorren Nabwire Omondi, Vivian Corazon
Subs: Lilian Onyango, Ann Alouch, Carolyne Omondi, Mary Wanjiku, Nedy Atieno, Essa Akida, Cheris Salano

Zanzibar Starting XI: Amina Mohamed Kitambi (G.K), Abdallah Abdulahi Mwajuma, Riziki Abdalla Mohamed, Ali Khatib Mtumwa, Khalid Abdalla Warda, Fatuma Khatibu Salum, Msimu Suluhu Hassan, Nassirin Mohamed Ahmed, Zena Khamis Rashid, Sabahi Hashim Yussuf, Aziza Ali Mtumwa

Subs: Khadija Saleh, Paulina Zacharia, Machano Neema, Suzanna Francis, Nuru Nassib, Zulekhe Omari