WAFCON Qualifiers: Nekesa ready for second leg as Odemba focuses on "shutting down the occasion"

Sparta Prague and Harambee Starlets forward Marjolen Nekesa believes Kenya’s progression to next year’s Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will be “one of the greatest achievements” not only for her but her teammates and the entire coaching staff.

Nekesa, on her recall to the national team after missing out on the Cameroon first-round tie, was Kenya’s only goal scorer in Wednesday’s first leg second leg round tie against Botswana at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The 25-year-old sneaked in a spot-kick past Tlamelo Pheresi deep in first-half added time to cancel out Keitumetse Dithebe’s strike in the 36th minute for the 1-1 draw that eventually saw Violet Nanjala miss what could have been a game-winning goal from the penalty spot.

“Looking back I believe Botswana were good, but we were better as a team. Only that it was not our day,” Nekesa said after Saturday morning’s training session.

“But so far things are good, preparations have been going on well and we are all ready for the return match where we hope to get some good results.”

Asked what it would mean for her - given her exploits in this year’s UEFA Women’s Champions League - to make it to the WAFCON tournament in Morocco, she said: “That will be one of the greatest achievements for me, the team and coaching staff. Of course, a good opportunity for us to get exposure, but also an avenue for us to make the women’s world cup.”

Sirines of Grevana defender Dorcas Shikobe, who was uninvolved in the first leg, stressed the fact that the team had learnt from their ‘mistakes’ last Wednesday and that they were ready to push come the return leg in Gaborone.

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“We will win,” Shikobe reassured. “Our training in the last days has been fixed on taking advantage of our opponents and securing qualification.”

Beldine Odemba, the team head coach, on the other hand, admitted that much of her focus following the draw was on “shutting down on fans and the hostile environment,” while serving her girls with a reminder that winning the tie is doable.

“We need to get rid of the aspect that winning there is doable,” she said. “We've at least enjoyed some good sessions with the players who had not had a feel of the pitch yet, and am happy that there is a blending in already. We are ready.”

The team is expected to depart on Sunday 3 December, with the second-leg tie on 5 December.