32 to hit camp for Harambee Starlets Awcon preps

Harambee Starlets coach David Ouma has named his provisional squad of 32 players ahead of the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations scheduled for Ghana from November 17 to December 1.

The team is set to report to camp on Monday and have lined up two friendly matches against Uganda (home) and Ghana (away) before the tournament.

Majority of the players featured in the qualifiers against Uganda and Equatorial Guinea with a few additions including United States-based Nekesa Marjolene.

The striker was the runners up top scorer at the 2014 Airtel Rising Stars National secondary Term Two B Games in Kakamega helping Butere Girls to the girls football title.

Starlets were pooled in Group B alongside defending champions Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia whom they begin their campaign against on November 17.

The Kenyans will play South Africa three days later before closing the preliminary round against eight-time champions Nigeria on November 24.

Top two teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals.

“I must admit it’s not an easy group,” said Starlets coach Ouma, who led the team at their maiden Awcon appearance in Cameroon two years ago.

At that time, Kenya finished bottom of Group "B" without a point after losing 4-0 to Nigeria and identical 3-1 defeats to Ghana and Mali.

The former Sofapaka coach added: “Our intention is to come out of the group. We will take one match at a time. In 2016, the team lacked experience. We will play each match like a final as we not only target to reach semi-finals but also aspire to be at the World Cup.”

This year’s competition, being held in the West African country’s Accra and Cape Coast cities for the first time, also serves as the African qualifiers to the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

The top three teams will qualifier for the global tourney scheduled for France in June next year.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has appealed for Sh43 million to help prepare the team for the showpiece.

“If we do not get funds, we will be forced to go back to Kenyans and ask them to help us take the team to Ghana, because every time we go into camp, we go into debt,” said Mwendwa.

FULL SQUAD
Goalkeepers

Pauline Atieno (Makolanders), Maureen Shimuli (Wadadia), Annette Kundu (Eldoret Falcons), Monica Karambu (Thika Queens), Diana Tembesi (Wiyeta Girls)

Defenders

Lilian Adera (Vihiga Queens), Wendy Achieng (Spedag), Dorcas Shikobe (Oserian), Phelistus Kadari (Vihiga Queens), Wincate Kaari (Thika Queens), Elizabeth Ambogo (Spedag), Maureen Khakasa (Trans Nzoia Falcons), Juliet Auma (Thika Queens), Vivian Nasaka (Vihiga Queens)

Midfielders

Jentrix Shikangwa (Wiyeta Girls), Mary Kinuthia (Gaspo Youth), Sheril Angachi (Gaspo Youth), Ruth Ingosi (Eldoret Falcons), Corazone Aquino (Vihiga Queens), Elizabeth Wambui (Gaspo Youth), Martha Amunyolete (Trans Nzoia Falcons), Christine Nafula (Gaspo Youth), Cynthia Shilwatso (Vihiga Queens), Mercy Achieng (Thika Queens), Cheris Avilia (Spedag)

Forwards
Neddy Atieno (Makolanders), Esse Akida (Ramat Hasharon), Mwanahalima Adam (Thika Queens), Janet Bundi (Eldoret Falcons), Terry Engesha (Vihiga Queens), Phoebe Oketch (Vihiga Queens), Marjolene Nekesa (USA)