Harambee Starlets out to massacre South Sudan in CECAFA tie

Harambee Starlets will take to the pitch on Thursday, 19 June, afternoon to play South Sudan in their third CECAFA Women’s Championship game at the Azam Sports Complex in Tanzania. The game is penciled for a 4 PM kick-off.

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Kenya has commenced the tournament strongly, winning their opening two games. They thrashed Burundi 3-0 in the opener on Sunday before annihilating neighbours Uganda 4-0 on Tuesday night, and are seeking to maintain the same run when they come up against struggling South Sudan.

In South Sudan, they face the whipping girls of the tournament. The continent’s youngest nation commenced the tournament with a 4-0 loss to hosts Tanzania before they were put to the sword 5-0 by Uganda in the second game, and Kenya will be out to pile more misery on them when they come head to head in Dar.

The two teams last met in 2021 during the WAFCON qualifiers, with both legs played in Kenya. Starlets won 8-0 in the first leg, before picking a 7-1 win in the return. Both games were staged at the Nyayo National Stadium. Kenya, however, did not play in the next qualification round due to a FIFA ban, which was slapped on Kenya after the government dissolved the federation.

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The match against South Sudan presents Kenya with an opportunity to score more goals, which could prove key in the long run. They currently trail leaders Tanzania on goal difference. Tanzania have a +10 while Kenya have a +7, and with the tournament being played on a round-robin format, it could come down to small details like goal difference (GD) to determine the winner of the competition.

Starlets assistant coach Godfrey Oduor hinted at a rotation in the game, saying they have a thin squad and intend to make use of all their players.

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“We have 19 players in camp, and it is only fair to give everyone a chance. Some of the girls lack experience at this level, so it is important they get the exposure,” he said. “We might see some rotation in the next match. A few players have featured heavily, and we will need to support the ones who have not had enough minutes.”

After South Sudan on Thursday, Kenya will end the competition with a match against the home team, Tanzania, on Saturday.

Tanzania are the most successful team in CECAFA Women’s Championship history, having won the tournament twice. Kenya, Uganda, and Zanzibar have each lifted the title once.

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Harambee Starlets squad in Tanzania

Goalkeepers: Annedy Kundu, Lilian Awuor, Vivian Shiyonzo

Defenders: Elizabeth Ochaka, Alice Mideri, Tabitha Amoit, Janet Mumo, Ruth Ingosi, Dorcas Shikobe, Enez Mango, Vivian Nasaka

Midfielders: Diana Wacera, Martha Amunyolet, Fasila Adhiambo, Lavender Ann Akinyi, Medina Abubakar Hussein

Forwards: Emily Morang’a, Swaum Nanjaka Masungo, Faith Mboya, Tumaini Waliaula, Violet Nanjala

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