Akida re-signs for Thika Queens after Besiktas stint

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women Premier League (WPL) side Thika Queens have announced the re-signing of Harambee Starlets forward Esse Akida on a one-year deal with an option to extend.

“Delighted to announce that I have rejoined WPL’s Thika Queens. This has always been home. Can’t wait to get going,” Akida, who has most recently played for Turkish giants Beşiktaş women wrote on her social media platforms.

The former Spedag striker has been in the country since December 2020 after arriving from Turkey. Akida joined Beşiktaş in February 2020 after a one and half year stint with Israeli top-flight side Ramat Hasharon.

The 28-year-old goal machine helped Beşiktaş to a second-place finish after the season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Akida had only featured twice for the 2019 Turkish champions before the league was suspended following the outbreak of Covid-19.

The lethal forward made history for Harambee Starlets following her goal in the 3-1 loss to Ghana as she became the first-ever Kenyan to score in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations goal in Cameroon back in 2016.

She was also set to become the first-ever woman to play in the Women UEFA Champions League after the club qualified for the tourney but the tournament was postponed due to Covid-19.

Her return to Thika comes barely a week after Harambee Starlets midfielder Corazone Aquino rejoined Gaspo Youth after a one-year stint with Portuguese top-tier side Atletico Ouriense.