Under-20 girls in Ethiopia for World Cup qualifier
What you need to know:
- The Kenyan youngsters thrashed Botswana 7-1 in the first leg of the qualifiers two months ago at the Lobatse Stadium in Botswana, before the Southern Africans failed to show up for the second leg.
- The Kenyans will be looking for a repeat performance in Hawassa, although Ethiopia are expected to present a stronger opposition than Botswana.
The national women’s Under-20 football team will on Sunday face their Ethiopian counterparts in the first leg of their second round qualifying campaign for the 2018 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup at the Hawassa Stadium, in Hawassa, Ethiopia.
The 18-girl squad will be guided by the coaching trio of Caroline Achieng, Ann Aluoch and Jackline Akoth, although the team’s technical bench has been strengthened by the addition of Harambee Stars assistant coach Musa Otieno.
Both the technical bench and the players, who have been barred from addressing the press by the federation, left the country early Friday morning for Ethiopia.
The Kenyan youngsters thrashed Botswana 7-1 in the first leg of the qualifiers two months ago at the Lobatse Stadium in Botswana, before the Southern Africans failed to show up for the second leg.
The Kenyans will be looking for a repeat performance in Hawassa, although Ethiopia are expected to present a stronger opposition than Botswana.
Victory over Ethiopia in the two-legged tie will see the Kenyans enter the tournament’s second last qualification stage where they will face either Algeria or Ghana.
Meanwhile, the senior women’s football team, Harambee Starlets, will Saturday afternoon face Mauritius in their second match of the Cosafa Women’s Championship scheduled to begin at midday at the 10,000-seater Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo.
Starlets opened their campaign with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Mozambique on Thursday evening to assume early leadership of their Group B ahead of Swaziland and Mozambique.
Returning striker Neddie Atieno delivered a player-of-the-match performance by accounting for three goals in the game, as diminutive forward Mwanahalima Adam and Vihiga Queens midfielder Phoebe Oketch contributed a goal each.
A similar result in today’s clash will enable the senior team get one foot into the tournament’s semi-finals.
U20 SQUAD
Corazone Aquino, Judith Osimbo, Wincate Kaari, Sherryl Angachi, Diana Wacera, Foscah Nashivanda, Lilian Awuor, Lucy Akoth, Rachel Muema, Cynthia Akinyi, Cynthia Shilwatso, Veronica Awino, Gentrix Shikangwa, Vivian Makokha, Maureen Khakasa, Leah Cherotich, Martha Amunyolete, Stella Anyango.
Technical Bench:
Caroline Achieng (Coach), Ann Aluoch (Coach), Jackline Akoth (Coach), Musa Otieno (Technical Head), Michael Igendia (Performance and conditioning), Hassan Shah (Goalkeeper Trainer), David Ndakalu (Team Doctor/Physio), Rosemary Aluoch (Kit Manager).
