Vihiga Queens clinch WPL title as Gaspo falters
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 21.05.23. | 16:26
This is the fourth league title for Vihiga Queens but it could have been their fifth had the 2021/22 season not being annulled.
Vihiga Queens are the Kenya Women's Premier League champions for the fourth time following their 2-1 win over Nakuru City Queens at the ASK Showground, Nakuru.
Their crowning moment came with the win, but Gaspo Women dropped crucial points in their match against Wadadia as they played to a two-all draw.
It was a title chase that promised to go down to the wire, with Gaspo leading Vihiga on goal difference for a while in the second leg but the latter showed mettle and character to claim the title.
The champions won three back-to-back titles then under the tutelage of Alex Alumirah from 2017 to 2019 but lost the 2020/21 challenge to Thika Queens before reclaiming it last season only for the season to be annulled.
Gaspo dared to dream and end the Vihiga-Thika dominance in the past decade, but it was not enough as they stuttered when it mattered most, playing to consecutive draws against Ulinzi Starlets and Wadadia.
Anitah Namata scored a brace against Nakuru City Queens, breaking the deadlock in only the second minute from the spot and reclaiming the lead in the 78th minute after Vihiga's player Robai Kebebi had the ball in their own net just a minute into the second half.
Wadadia 2-2 Gaspo
In the match pitting Gaspo and Wadadia played at Mumias Complex, the host led 2-0 into the break courtesy of Jackline Chesang and Laura Atsabina but Lydia Akoth scored a brace in the second half to pick a point for Gaspo but it was not enough to keep their title hopes.
Ulinzi Starlets cemented the third spot after hammering relegated Kangemi Ladies 11-0.
Judith Omondi scored four goals in the match while Lavenda Akinyi grabbed a hattrick, Sophia Adhiambo a brace, with Jentrix Kuyudi and Joy Oriyo grabbing one goal each to make it 11.
Trans Nzoia Falcons beat Bunyore Starlets 2-1 courtesy of goals by Linda Kihara and Joyce Mukangu with Lucky Achando scoring the consolation.
Kisumu All Starlets will head into the last match of the campaign while in the relegation zone after they fell 3-1 to Zetech Sparks at the GEMS Cambridge.
Susan Nyumba, Fridhaus Abdallah, and Puren Alukwe scored for Zetech while Lydia Awuor netted Kisumu's only goal.
.jpg)
