U20 WCQ: Odemba keeps hope high as Rising Starlets seek to overturn deficit

Kenya women’s U20 head coach Beldine Odemba believes that her squad has got all it takes to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Cameroon when the two sides lock horns in the second leg of the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup set to be staged at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday 17 November.

A brace from Annie Felicia Enganemben and a strike from Naomi Eto in last Saturday’s matchup at the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon dented the Rising Starlets’ efforts of making next year’s tournament in Colombia, but now presented “a second chance in war”, Odemba has high hopes in a comeback.

“Camp has been good, we are continuing to gel and I can see daily improvements in the team,” Odemba said during the team’s training session on Thursday at Nyayo Stadium. “I don’t feel as if there is any pressure on our side. There is always pressure for results but the main thing for us is that we are working hard to overturn the first leg results.’

Asked on any team adjustments going to Friday, Odemba admitted that she will enter the field without any changes to her personnel, with only a few positional changes expected.

“After the game we did our own video analysis, went through the first game and focused on where we were weak,” she said. “That plus enhancing our strong areas was necessary, and even though we haven’t had any friendlies in between, we should be ready tomorrow.”

The same sentiments were voiced by team captain Rebecca Kwoba, who praised her teammates’ psyche and morale, as key heading into the decider.

“We all know what needs to be done,” Kwoba said. “We will definitely win by that four goal margin and leave the rest to the referee. We humbly ask our fans to turn up and cheer us on. We have a second chance and we will beat them [Cameroon].”

Asked about losing eight of her players due to the ongoing KCSE examinations, Odemba gave a different response to the one she had as the team entered camp saying: “We are no longer using that as an excuse. I realized that we sounded as if the players who are available aren’t enough. That’s not the case. We are all a team and we will do everything possible to win.”

D-Day for Harambee Stars in World Cup Qualifiers test against Gabon

Friday’s match kicks off at 1500 EAT, with the winner on aggregate booking a place into the final qualification round where they will meet either Congo or Egypt.

Rising Starlets squad:

Goalkeepers: Scovia Awuor, Christine Omolo, Ivonne Minage

Defenders: Rebecca Kwoba, Rachel Adhiambo, Dorcas Glender, Judith Nandwa, Ruth Akinyi, Ann Brenda Ochieng, Tabitha Amoit, Redempter Mercy, Sharon Vidah Okeyo

Midfielders: Clotilda Auma, Elizabeth Muteshi, Hellen Mito, Sunira Manda Were

Forwards: Valerie Leah Nekesa, Charity Midewa, Anna Nabwire Arusi, Elizabeth Mideva, Sharlyne Opisa, Fasila Odhiambo, Emilly Okute.