Kenya’s Harambee Starlets defeated Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Queens 2-0 to annex the 2019 Cecafa Senior Women’s Challenge Cup title on Monday in Chamazi near Dar es Salaam.
The Cecafa (Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations) conquest was Kenya’s first after Tanzania won the title in 2016 and 2018.
Striker Gentrix Shikangwa came off the bench in the second half to score a brace which was enough for Kenya to win their first silverware in women’s football in the Cecafa region.
“This is a sweet win after the disappointment for failing to beat Zambia a few weeks ago in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifier,” said Shikangwa.
Before the final, the two teams were unbeaten and had not conceded a goal in the tournament.
“This is a sweet win for us because we lost to Tanzania in the final in 2016,” said Kenya’s captain Dorcus Nixon.
Kenya coach David Ouma praised his team for the discipline they showed in the tournament.
“The team played as a unit and won the trophy without conceding a goal,” said Ouma.
Tanzania coach Bakari Shime admitted they had lost to a solid Kenyan team.
“A final is a final and Kenya took their chances. This is a new team and the exposure will be good for them,” said Shime.
In the third-place match, Uganda beat Burundi 2-0 to win bronze.
Substitutes Shamira Nalujja and Amina Nababi netted the goals.
Kenya’s Shikangwa won the top scorers’ award after she netted 10 goals.
The Golden Glove Award for best goalkeeper went to Kenya’s Annedy Kundu who did not concede a goal in the tournament.
The tournament attracted women’s teams from Tanzania, Zanzibar, South Sudan, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo
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