Harambee Starlets might have just got a taste of what to expect in case they make it to AWCON in Accra Ghana.
Despite taking an early lead courtesy of a Mercy Ochieng goal, the starlets were held by Ghana who equalized late through Linda Eshun.
The host thought that they were headed for a win until the Ghanaian star stepped up with a late equalizer at the 60, 000 sitter Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday.
Kenya surprised the visitors with an early goal courtesy of Mercy Achieng, who shot the David Ouma led charges to the lead in the 16th minute, but Eshun would take none of it.
Eshun, who made her national team debut with the Black Queens four years ago and was part of Ghana’s squad that took part in the 2014 Awcon finals, returned from the break with a heartbreaking equalizer with only 23 minutes left on the clock.
Starlets have been in camp for barely a fortnight after their place into the bi-annual competition was confirmed early in October following Caf decision to disqualify Equatorial Guinea for fielding an ineligible player during the qualifiers.
This will be Kenya’s second appearance at the continental championship after they took part in the last edition staged in Cameroon.
But even as the players put up a spirited fight on the pitch, Kenya’s chances of taking part in the game still remain in limbo with the government still dragging its feet on releasing the funds for the trip.
Harambee Starlets, who are pooled in Group B alongside Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa, will next take on Mali in another build up.
Harambee Starlets dreams of taking part in this year’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nation finals in Ghana might be shattered if nothing is done real quick to save the team that is said to be in great financial crisis.
Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has called on Government to offer more financial backing ahead of the upcoming assignments involving the Harambee Stars, Harambee Starlets as well as the Emerging Stars.
According to Nick Mwendwa, the lethargic nature in which the government is handling the women’s team preparation is to be blamed for their current predicament.
Mwendwa now says that the federation will have no option but to pull out of the bi-annual tournament, if the government fails to commit her facilitation of the team, by releasing the funds latest Tuesday next week.
The federation requires over Sh80 million to prepare both the Starlets, the Emerging Stars and the Harambee Stars for the upcoming assignments.