Ambitious Starlets want no let-up in Awcon finals

The national women’s football team departed the country on Friday for their Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (Awcon) debut in Cameroon with the ambitious debutantes aiming at a top four finish.

Harambee Starlets have been drawn in a tough Group B in the biennial tournament alongside experienced West Africans; champions Nigeria, Ghana and Mali and will hold a two-week training camp in the Coastal City of Limbe before tournament kick-off on November 19.

At the farewell luncheon organised on Thursday at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Nick Mwendwa reiterated his belief in the ability of the Starlets.

“Our goal is to reach the semi-finals. We set the goal early this year when we beat Algeria and qualified here in Kasarani. We have been working towards it and we are sure we have done what we ought to make it.

“We can’t change our initial target. We have been doing well over time and proved it is possible to do it,” Mwendwa charged.

Head coach David Ouma assured Kenyans the team will not disappoint while acknowledging the commendable support on their road to Cameroon.

“We have the right team representing us and the idea has been to develop players physically and technically. We have tried a big number but finally settled on the best for this job.

“I’m content with the preparations and recognize the ball is on our court,” the former Sofapaka tactician stated.

Ouma admitted the team will miss former Starlets captain Neddy Atieno who recently joined the Kenya Defence Forces and Mwanahalima Adam, currently sitting for her O-Level examinations.

“They were impact players within the team, but we have to accept we don’t have them now. I’m happy we have the right replacements and we have dynamic players who adapt quickly,” assured Ouma.

Adam scored during Starlets’ 2-2 stalemate against Algeria in Algiers in the last round of the qualifiers while Atieno was instrumental in the team’s stellar showing during the Cecafa Women’s Championships in Uganda where the team lost in the final to Tanzania.

Striker Esse Mbeyu Akida told Citizen Digital the team is ready to conquer Africa and stamp their authority as a formidable force in the continent.