kenyan held by CECAFA holders Tanzanian

Kenya played out a 1-1 draw with defending champions Tanzania in her second match of the 2018 CECAFA Women Championships. The match was played on Saturday, July 21, 2018, at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo in Kigali, Rwanda.

Mwanahalima Adam scored directly form a corner kick to earn Harambee Starlets a point against Tanzania in their second game of the CECAFA Semior Women Championship that ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday 21 July in Kigali-Rwanda.

Tanzania who had beaten Starkets in the last edition’s finals held in Uganda took the lead in the 13th minute through Donisia Daniel who released a thunderbolt from the edge of the box past a hapless custodian Poline Atieno but Dogo restored parity for the David Ouma coached side in the 21st minute.

Earlier in the day, Ethiopia let slip a 1-0 lead to fall 2-1 to Uganda who now tops the standings with six points.

Birtukan Gebrekirstos put Ethiopia in the lead in the 39 minute; a lead that was maintained till the halftime break but Uganda scored two quick goals through Grace Aluka and Yudaya Nakayenze in tbr 68th and 75th minutes.

With Sunday being a rest day, Kenya next faces hosts Rwanda on Monday before finishing the competition with a tie against Ethiopia on Wednesday. The leader of the competition which is played in a round robin format will be crowned the champions.

In the opening clash, Kenya fell 1-0. 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.

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.

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

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