Harambee Starlets look to overturn deficit against Cameroon

• Starlets trail Cameroon by a solitary goal from the first leg
• The second leg will be played on Tuesday at the Nyayo Stadium
• Starlets need to win by a margin of more than two goals

National women football team Harambee Starlets will tackle Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit to battle for a place in next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Starlets lost by a solitary goal to the Cameroonians in the first leg played in Douala on Friday, and need to win the corresponding fixture in Nairobi by more than two goals to make it to the second and final qualification round. A 1-0 scoreline would give them a lifeline, as they will push the game to penalties.

Head coach Beldine Odemba remains confident the team can overturn the deficit, and says the girls have worked well in two training sessions to get their minds and bodies ready.

“The spirits are high in camp and the girls are really pushing themselves to get a good result. We did well in Cameroon and suffered a slim loss. I believe it is something that we can recover. The plan at home is to turn the tables. When you play ay home you have to give your best,” the tactician stated.

She added; “If we play according to the plan that we have as a technical bench and the girls execute the instructions, then we should expect good results.”

Stun Cameroon in Nairobi 

Harambee Starlets players in training

The tactician has only rued the early goal conceded in Douala, but otherwise reckons her team played well. She believes that if they can tighten a few areas especially defensively, they will stun the WAFCON and World Cup regulars.

Meanwhile, Cameroon are cautious of their approach against Starlets, and they believe it will not be an easy outing. Defender Easther Kith says the team will tackle Kenya seriously, and will give the game maximum concentration.

“We know it will be a tough game because Kenya will be playing at home and will have that advantage. We need to come here and compete. We have worked to fix some things that we saw from the first leg and we are ready,” the Canadian born defender said.

Try to play best football 

Harambee Starlets striker Esse Akida in training

She adds; “We are not worried. We always try to play the best football and we know that we are coming to play against a good team. They play the ball on the ground and we know we need to be strong especially in the middle to prevent them from advancing. We have to remain concentrated.”

At the same time, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has waived gate charges for the match, in a bid to attract more fans to the midweek fixture. Starlets have called on the Kenyan public to turn up in large numbers to give them a 12^th man advantage and push them into progressing to the next round.

“I would like to ask fans to turn out in large numbers and support us. We know it is a weekday but we can still get some good support. We will do our best at home to ensure we get the best result for them and the country,” captain Ruth Ingotsi appealed.