Coach David Ouma has named the starting lineup set to do duty against Tanzania in Kenya’s second match of the 2018 CECAFA Women Championships in Rwanda.
Esse Akida, Ruth Ingosi, and Vivian Nasaka have been drafted into the starting team in place of Terry Engesha, Cheris Avilia, and Wendy Achieng. The dependable back four of Lilian Adera, Wendy Achieng, Dorcas Shikobe and Elizabeth Ambogo, meanwhile, has once again been entrusted with the defensive duties.
The match is set to be played on Saturday, July 21, 2018, at the Stade Regional de Nyamirambo starting at 5.30 pm EAT.
Kenya lost 1-0 to Uganda in the opening match of the tourney on Thursday, July 19, 2018, and will be hoping to make amends against the defending champions, who also lost 1-0 to hosts Rwanda in their first match.
Unlike in their previous meetings with Harambee Starlets, Uganda looked a better team in the earlier exchanges and deservedly took the lead in the seventh minute through Lilian Mutuuzo.
Uganda had won a corner in the sixth minute and the deliver was parried by goalkeeper Poline Atieno in the path of the unmarked Mutuuzo who had all the time in the world to slot past the Kenyan keeper.
Starlets response was immediate with Neddy Atieno’s goal in the 15th minute ruled out for an offside call; this coming a minute after the David Ouma coached team had a penalty appealed turned off by the referee. Mwanahalima Adam was to see her lob come off the bar two minutes later after getting to a Neddy through pass.
Uganda who had been containing their opponents well in the first half proceedings were unlucky to double their lead minutes into the break after they rattled the Kenya’s post via free kick; the game going to the half time break with Uganda on the lead.
Ten minutes after resumption, coach David Ouma decided to a quick double change with Esse Akida and Martha Amunyolete coming on for Terry Engesha and Mercy Achieng respectively.
The changes seem to have given Starlets the needed boost in troubling the Uganda defence but the finishing needed to turn the game in their favour wasn’t forthcoming; Uganda holding on for their first win of the showpiece
After the loss Ouma said: “I think the better team lost today. We created a many chances but failed to take them. They (Uganda) made it hard for us by sitting back but that was expected after they scored. After dominating a chunk of the game we failed to reward ourselves today,” Ouma remarked.
On her part, Crested Cranes head coach Faridah Bulega hailed her troops for a good show; the coach intimating that she had advised her charges to add speed to their game after they had taken the lead.
The girls did well today and I had told them to add speed just after we had taken the lead. Sitting back would have been a tragedy so I urged them too to attack and I think it helped us in the game,” Bulega said.
This was the first win for Uganda against Kenya in their last six encounters in all competitions.
Starting XI
Poline Atieno (GK), Lilian Adera, Dorcas Shikobe, Elizabeth Ambogo, Vivian Nasaka, Ruth Ingosi, Cynthia Shilwatso, Mercy Achieng, Mwanahalima Adam, Neddy Atieno, Esse Akida
Substitutes
Monica Karambu (GK), Phelistus Kadari, Wendy Achieng, Anita Adongo, Cheris Avilia, Carolyne Anyango, Sheryl Angachi