U20WCQ: Odemba hails Cameroon's tactical superiority

Kenya U20 Women’s national team head coach Beldine Odemba said that her team was tactically outdone by Cameroon on Friday afternoon, and in what ended up as the side’s last game in the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Rising Starlets, who lost 3-0 on the road in the first leg matchup, were attempting a comeback when the two sides faced off at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, only to be subjected to a 3-2 loss, and 6-2 in aggregate.

Reflecting on the game, Odemba said: “Our opponents were clearly better than us tactically, and it was clear from the onset that there was some fear within the players. We didn’t have that composure that we expected, and the game turnt out a bit different than we expected.”

Among the changes she brought into the game was Fasila Adhiambo being replaced by Valerie Nekesa in midfield.

Answering the reason behind that, Odemba clarified that the midfielder had accumulated two yellow cards prior to the game, noting that her presence was missed.

“She [Fasila] was and is a vital and integral part of our team,” she said. “We’ve seen how good she has been in previous matches and we definitely felt her absence in the middle today.”

On the tactics applied to the game, Odemba was quick to admit that owing to their preparations, they were somehow surprised by how the game panned out, especially given that two of the Cameroonian goals came from open shots in midfield.

U20 WCQ: Journey over for Rising Starlets in defeat to visiting Cameroon

“If you look through their games tactically, Cameroon is not playing through midfield. They play high balls from the defense line to the attackers,” Odemba said. “When we were planning, we didn’t think that it was something that would really be a big factor in this match … that would need us to bring more midfielders.

“But it's something that we have noted and will help us in the future.”

Charity Midewa came off the bench at halftime to score all goals for Kenya, reserving some praise from her coach.

“Some players don’t give you much in training and you get something different when given a chance. I am very happy that she redeemed herself from her previous match in the first leg, and scored yet another brace for the team.”

Cameroon’s coach Hassan Balla on the other hand embraced the team win saying: “Satisfied with how the team handled itself today. Though slightly rattled by how Kenya attacked the game in the second half, the girls showed some fortitude and won in such a do-or-die game.”

With the win, Cameroon will play in the final round of the qualifiers, where they are set to play the winner of the Congo - Egypt tie.