Rising Starlets' head coach Beldine Odemba says Cameroon were tactically better after they lost 3-2 in the 2024 Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Rising Starlets have now been eliminated after failing to qualify in the second leg of the third round held at Nyayo Stadium on Friday.
Odemba's side came into this fixture with a three-goal deficit after Cameroon, led by Hassan Ibrahim, thrashed Starlets in the first leg in Cameroon.
Odemba said: "During half-time, we had a tactical talk to see where we can improve. I am happy they at least scored those two goals. This shows they have the ability to compete.”
Super-sub Charity Midewa was able to pull two back for Starlets but the girls were unable to match the 6-2 aggregate.
“Some players don’t give much during training but they do something on the pitch. I am happy she got a brace and got the chance to play. She is a top player,” she added.
The Odemba-led side missed the services of Phasila Adhiambo who skipped the game due to accumulating two yellows.
“ Cameroon overrun us in midfield. It was difficult. Phasila got two yellows and she couldn’t play in the match. To be honest, we felt her absence in the midfield. Cameroon were playing highballs and attacking football. Let us just say the opponent was tactically better.”
Coach Odemba was still missing eight key players who were still sitting for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
Odemba said she could not attribute the loss to the absence of the key players. “We had time to prepare with the girls so I can’t say that’s the reason we lost. I was missing the services of Valerie Nekesa and Captain Jane Hato but that was not much of a big deal,” she said.
Cameroon will now head to the fourth round and will face the winner between Congo and Egypt in the final round later this year. The finals are scheduled from August 31 to September 22 next year.
