Harambee Starlets, will on Thursday, July 19, 2018, face Uganda’s Crested Cranes in the opening match of the 2018 CECAFA Women Championships.
Starlets, who have been in camp since July 7, 2018, safely arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, ahead of the five-nation tournament, set to be played in a round-robin format.
Coach David Ouma has exuded confidence in his charges abilities, noting that they are ready for the task and will give their best.
“We are the team to beat in this tournament. Our opponents will try and make it hard for us but with the preparations we have had, I am confident that we will post positive results,” said Ouma.
“We have had sufficient preparations. The players are psyched up and I am confident that we will post positive results,” he added
The two sides’ most recent encounter was in an Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) Qualifier in April 2018, which Kenya won 1-0 on aggregate. The first leg had ended 1-0 in favor of the Starlets in Machakos with the second leg ending in a barren stalemate in Kampala.
The Kenyan side has never lost to Uganda in the past meetings. They first faced off in July 2016 and Kenya got a 4-0 win in the tie played at Moi Stadium in Kisumu. The sides then met in the CECAFA Women Championship in Uganda and Kenyan once again won 4-0.
In those meeting, Kenyan has scored nine goals and has never conceded. David Ouma charges have only failed to score once in the clashes. They will be hoping to replicate the 2016 performance that saw them reach the finals only to lose to Tanzania.
The Kenyan’s campaign in 2016 campaign Kenyan was in Pool A and their impressive run saw them top Pool A. The side started off with a 4-0 win, whipped Burundi 4-0 and whipped Zanzibar 11-0. In the Semifinals the side picked a 3-2 win.
The side got a 2-1 loss in the finals against Tanzania but Esse Akida walked away with the golden boot after scoring six goals. The 2016 CECAFA Women’s Championship was the second edition of the association football tournament for women’s national teams in the East African region. The first edition was hosted in 1986 and won by Zanzibar.
It was held in Jinja, Uganda between 11 and 20 September 2016. There were no sponsors besides the Uganda Football Association
Kenyan’s squad
Goalkeepers
Pauline Atieno (Makolanders), Monica Karambu (Thika Queens)
Defenders
Elizabeth Ambogo (Spedag), Phelistas Kadari (Vihiga Queens), Dorcas Shikobe (Oserian Ladies), Anita Adongo (Oserian Ladies), Vivian Nasaka (Vihiga Queens), Lilian Adera (Vihiga Queens), Wendy Achieng (Spedag)
Midfielders
Caroline Anyango (Spedag), Ruth Ingosi (Eldoret Falcons), Sheryl Angachi (Gaspo Ladies), Cheris Avilia (Spedag), Cynthia Shilwatso (Vihiga Queens), Mwanalima Adams (Thika Queens), Esse Akida (Spedag), Mercy Achieng (Thika Queens)
Forwards
Neddy Atieno (Makolanders), Terry Engesha (Vihiga Queens), Martha Amunyolete (Trans-Nzoia Falcons)
Uganda Squad:
Full Fixtures
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Kenya vs Uganda (Kigali, 2 pm)
Rwanda vs Tanzania (Kigali, 4.15 pm)
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Ethiopia vs Uganda (Kigali, 2 pm)
Kenya vs Tanzania (Kigali, 4.15 pm)
Monday, July 23, 2018
Uganda vs Tanzania (Kigali, 2 pm)
Rwanda vs Ethiopia (Kigali, 4.15 pm)
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Kenya vs Ethiopia (Kigali, 2 pm)
Uganda vs Rwanda (Kigali, 4.15 pm)
Friday, July 27, 2018
Ethiopia vs Tanzania (Kigali, 2 pm)
Rwanda vs Kenya (Kigali, 4.15 pm)