Harambee Starlets striker Mwanahalima Adam insists Botswana must fall as the two teams head for the first leg of the final round of the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.
Speaking after their final training session at Nyayo Stadium, Mwanahalima said: "Just as I declared Cameroon must fall, Botswana must also fall. This is a golden opportunity for Kenya, and for me, after receiving the call-up. My primary focus is to play for my name and my country, leaving a lasting memory for everyone.''
"Against Cameroon, we understood the stakes, realising that a loss would mean waiting until 2026 for another chance, which is why we worked tirelessly."
The highly-anticipated match is scheduled for Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday, with the return leg set for Gaborone a week later. The winner of the two-legged encounter will qualify for the continental showpiece and would mark Kenya's first qualification since 2016.
The Kenyan girls defied odds to eliminate Cameroon in the past round on post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw on aggregate in regular time.
Botswana on the other hand, crushed Gabon 10-1 on aggregate to book a date with Starlets.
Mwanahalima stated home advantage in such assignments is crucial.
''Contrary to popular belief, starting at home is a massive advantage for us. We urge all fans to rally behind us at the stadium," she said.
"The home support will be pivotal in ensuring our performance during those crucial 90 minutes. The coaches have played their part, and now it's up to us. We will take Kenya to Wafcon."
But acknowledging the pressure of playing at home, Mwanahalima asserted: "The stakes are high, but we will deliver. Starlets have never let Kenya down, and this won't be the first time.''
Reflecting on her 2016 experience, where she missed the tournament due to examinations despite participating in the qualifiers, Mwanahalima said: "This is a do-or-die situation for me. Missing out once was heartbreaking, and I won't let it happen again. I will work tirelessly to elevate our team to the highest level.''
The team received a major boost following the return of midfielder Sheryl Angachi from the Kenya Defence Forces Recruit Training School in Eldoret following a request from the Ministry of Sports.
Angachi scored the winning penalty against Cameroon.
Captain Ruth Ingotsi remains optimistic about breaking records and securing Wafcon qualification.
She emphasised the need to approach the match with the right mentality and also urged fans to turn out in large numbers to support the team.
''This will be a tough match because Botswana know how we eliminated Cameroon. I am sure they are ready for us. We need to up our mentality," she said.
"There is nothing that comes easy but our efforts will give us the chance to represent Kenya on the biggest stage," said Ingotsi.
Botswana, who jetted in Nairobi on Sunday have quite a number of professional players in their ranks, notably their goalkeeper Sedilame Boseja, who has won the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns.
But Ingosti remains unfazed, stating: "We will treat them like any other team. We won't underestimate them but we remain fearless. They may have studied our playing style, but we have done the same."
