Shikangwa's brace sends Vihiga Queens to the CAF Women's Champions League

Apart from taking home slightly over Ksh 3 Million, Vihiga becomes the 7th team to book a slot in Egypt for the first of its own event in Africa.

Other teams that have already booked a slot are Morocco's AS FAR, South Africa,s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Mali's AS Mande, Ghana's Hasaacas Ladies, and Nigeria's Rivers Angels FC. Egypt's Wadi Degla SC have a slot in place for them as they will host the inaugural showpiece. The 8 teams that make it to the final event will be put in two pools, with the first two teams in each pool progressing to the semifinal.

Vihiga Queens Assistant Coach Boniface Nyamunyamu was overjoyed after the final whistle and lauded the Vihiga Queens for a job well done.

“I am very happy with the girls, they followed instructions and avenged the earlier loss to CBE. We had to fix the defensive lapses coming to the final and I told the girls to minimize the mistakes at the back and I am happy they did exactly that,” he in the post-match interview.

He also reserved special praise for Jentrix Shikangwa who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

“I trust in Jentrix – she is a brilliant player. The penalty duties were on her and I was confident she would get the job done if we got one. Our focus now shifts to preparing for the CAF Champions League. We want to make a mark.” He concluded.

The Kenyan team were dealt a blow early in the first half when Alice Muderi was stretched off with an injury and her place taken by Janet Bundi. Jentrix Shikangwa opened the scoring for Vihiga Queens in the 27th minute, tapping in after Hasabe Gila had punched the initial shot.

Vihiga Queens played with pomp, stringing neat passes and outclassing CBE in everything. Terry Engesha was phenomenal in the first half, dancing with the defenders at will and had a hand in the first goal with the initial pass in the attack coming from her, and could have scored a goal or two had she taken her chances.

CBE almost regained their confidence following the substitution of Muderi but the queens of Vihiga had a solution for everything and reclaimed their dominance to head into the break with the lead.

Second half

On resumption, a rejuvenated CBE started on a high and threatened to level the scores. Their efforts paid off when Vivian Makokha headed into her own net from a freekick.

The own goal fueled Vihiga Queens, with CBE doing much of the chasing and the defending. The decisive moment came in stoppage time after Phoebe Owiti was brought down in the box aand the referee pointed to the spot. Shikangwa stepped up to take the resultant penalty and made no mistake, blasting it into the roof of the net to reclaim the lead and seal the ticket for Vihiga Queens.

Earlier on Uganda's Lady Doves edged Simba Queens from Tanzania 2-1 in the third-place playoff match at the same venue.

Doves scare Simba Queens off CECAFA podium