Starlets, be warned! Copper Queens in town ahead of crunch Olympic qualifier

Zambia, Harambee Starlets opponents for Friday’s crunch Olympic qualifier are in town.

The Copper Queens led by  their head coach Bruce Mwape touched down early Wednesday morning at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ahead of Friday’s test upbeat of defying the Kenyan girls on home soil as they bid to seal a ticket to the global multi-sport event primed for Japan next year.

The Copper Queens will be aiming to get a favourable result in the first leg to have a healthy chance of advancing to the  fifth and final round of the qualifiers when the two sides lock horns again on Monday in the return leg in Lusaka, Zambia.

Mwape’s girls got a shot in the arm this week after the European based trio of Misozi Zulu, Rachel Kundananji and Barbara Banda arrived on time to join the squad for the Nairobi assignment.

Meanwhile, in a bid to have fans throng the 60,000 seater Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on Friday, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has waived off gate charges making for free entry.

Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabaddah will take charge of the match assisted by her compatriots Jane Mutonyi as the First Assistant Referee, Nakitto Nkumbi as the Second Assistant Referee and Florence Ayaro as the Fourth Official.

Aline Bitagoye from Burundi will serve as the Match Commissioner while Agar Mezing from Cameroon will serve as the Referee Assessor during the match.

The return leg is primed for November 11th at Lusaka`s Nkoloma Stadium.

The winner between Kenya and Zambia over the two legs will join winner between Cameroon and Ivory Coast to Japan.

The runners up in the final will play Chile in a two legged playoff as their ticket to the Olympics while the winner books a ticket to the Olympics automatically.