Harambee Starlets made history by qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time ever on away goal rule following 3-3 aggregate result over Algeria yesterday.
Harambee Stars forced a 1-1 draw at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani, on Tuesday to register an aggregate of 3-3 against Algerians after a 2-2 result in Algiers last Friday. The Africa Cup of Nations will run from November 19 to December 3 in Cameroon.
Substitute Cheris
Avilia scored the all-important equaliser in the 75th minute to catapult the David Ouma-coached side to the continental stage. The visitors were the first to score through Bouheni Naima in the 23rd minute following a free kick outside the goal area.
Prior to the goal, the visitors had missed a number of chances with Algeria’s Benlazer Yasmin’s dangerous shot being stopped barely two minutes into the match by Starlets’ custodian Samatha Akinyi. Algeria’s Mwanahalima Adam was on the target again after 16 minutes but her goal was ruled out for offside.
In the 28th minute, Akida missed another scoring opportunity with her shot going wide. Starlets started the match strongly with good interplay and had equal share of opportunities early in the match, which however, counted for nothing. Neddy Atieno was fouled outside the goal area but her free-kick went over the bar.
Three minutes later, Algeria launched another break with Fatima Sekouane wheeling away down the right flank and beating two defenders in the process. She fed Naima the ball but the striker failed to connect. Two minutes after restart Nazima almost added a second goal for the visitors but her low attempt landed into the waiting hands of Akinyi. Two minutes later, Adam’s effort could have yielded an equaliser but Kinuthia’s shot was too weak to trouble the Algerian custodian.
The arrival of Corazone Aquino for Caroline Anyango and Cheris Avilia for Anne Aluoch added oomph into the Kenyan game.
Starlets head coach David Ouma said: “The win is a big boost for Kenya and the girls learnt from the loss to South Africa during the Olympics qualification last year.”