Starlets thump Burundi to sail through to Cecafa semis

National women’s football team Harambee Starlets emphatically punched their semi final ticket in the ongoing Cecafa tournament when they brought high flying Burundi back to earth with a thud in a 4-0 hiding on Tuesday.

Burundi, who drowned hapless Zanzibar 10-1 in their opener threatened first in the 24th minute when Aziza Misigyimana tested Vivian Akinyi in Starlet’s goal with a stinging shot but she was equal to the effort.

Neddy Akoth Otieno then opened the floodgates in the 29th during the fast paced clash played at Njeru Technical Ground in Jinja, Uganda before Thika Queens player Mary Kinuthia Wanjiku stretched the advantage three minutes later for her second in the tournament.

Starlets rounded the first half goal blitz in added time when Esse Mbeyu Akida made it 3-0 to take leadership of the top scorer’s charts with three.

It took David Ouma’s side only a minute after the restart to seal their second successive victory when Akoth notched her brace for the final score that equalled their 4-0 whipping of hosts Uganda in the opener.

Starlets face Zanzibar on Thursday in their last pool game seeking victory that would confirm their place as Group A winners as they continue their build-up to November’s CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Uganda were to face Zanzibar in the later game.