Akida, keeper Akinyi out of Kenya-Zambia game
Harambee Starlets goalkeeper Vivian Akinyi restarts play during their Cecafa Women Championship final match against Tanzania at the Njeru Technical Centre in Jinja on September 20, 2016. PHOTO | CLIVE KYAZZE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Akida is nursing an ankle injury she picked during a training session in Machakos.
- Akinyi is still recovering from a knee surgery she underwent early this year that ruled her out of action for six months.
Sensational striker Esse Akida and goalkeeper Vivian Akinyi will miss Harambee Starlets’ friendly match against She-Polopolo of Zambia on Sunday at the Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe, Zambia.
Akida is nursing an ankle injury she picked during a training session in Machakos, while Akinyi is still recovering from a knee surgery she underwent early this year that ruled her out of action for six months.
Coach Richard Kanyi however has plenty of options in his frontline, as Mwanahalima “Dogo” Adam, Corazone Acquino, Mercy Achieng and Cynthia Shilatswo are all fit and available for selection.
The national women’s football team will be using the friendly to prepare for next month’s 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda scheduled for April 4.
“We have a balanced squad with both upcoming and experienced players so this game should give us a good picture of how far we are with the Afcon preparations,” Kanyi said.
This will be Starlets’ first engagement since September last year when they took part in the Cosafa tournament.
Starlets arrived in Zambia on Thursday evening, with a revamped squad that includes the new faces of Wincate Kaari and Vivian Nasaka. Striker Neddy Atieno, who missed the 2016 Awcon due to career commitments, is part of the travelling party, as well as Cynthia Shilwatso who has starred for the national U-20 side.
To earn a place in the Awcon tournament for a second consecutive time, Starlets will need to play just two rounds of qualifying matches. A win over Uganda in the two-legged tie will guarantee them a place in the second and last qualification round where Equatorial Guinea lie in wait.
“We were together for three weeks in Machakos, and within that period I got to know the strength of every player.
“It is crucial for us to play this game now, just a few days before we face Uganda, because they are a very tough team and will give us the much-needed opportunity to gauge ourselves.”
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Pauline Atieno, Maureen Shimuli
Defenders: Dorcas Shikobe, Wendy Achieng, Carolyne Anyango, Lilian Adera, Vivian Nasaka, Esther Nadika, Pauline Musungu, Wincate Kaari
Midfielders: Cheris Avilia, Dorris Anyango, Sheryl Angachi, Caroline Kiget, Corazone Aquino
Strikers: Mwanahalima Adam, Mercy Achieng, Phoebe Owiti, Neddy Atieno, Cynthia Shilwatso
