It was a gloomy end for Kenya women's national team, Harambee Starlets after they bowed out of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following their loss to Botswana on Tuesday.
The gallant Kenyan queens lost 2-0 on aggregate to the Zebras at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone despite dominating the proceedings for the entire 90 minutes.
Cynthia Shilwatso should have saved the day for Starlets but was unfortunate enough to squander a penalty in the 53rd minute of the hotly-contested encounter.
Starlets stumbled on a glorious to take the lead break when Corazon Aquino’s rasping shot was handled inside the area.
However, Botswana shot-stopper Maitumelo Bosija was the toast of the day, stretching full length to block Shilwatso's feeble effort.
Bosija was called to action again in the dying minutes of the match, effectively denying Shilwatso another glorious chance to salvage Kenya from the jaws of the gallant Mares.
Coach Beldine Odemba's charges would soon rue the missed spot kick after their opponents punished them dearly with a goal in the 61st minute that separated the two teams at the full-time whistle.
It was Keitunetse Dithede who returned to haunt the Starlets again with another screamer, having also blasted the back of the net in Nairobi to secure her team the crucial draw.
Harambee Starlets needed to win at least by a solitary goal to advance to seal a historic berth in the biennial continental football showpiece having played out a one-all draw at Nyayo Stadium on Friday last week.
The loss has effectively condemned Kenya to another season in the cold, their last appearance in the tournament being in 2016 in Ghana.
Starlets landed in Botswana on Sunday and had an evening training session at Lekidi Football Centre Grounds in Gaborone.
They also had a feel of the Gaborone National Stadium on Monday evening.The two teams have now met thrice in history, with their last clash at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifying tournament in 2015.
During the 2015 encounter, Kenya lost the first leg 2-1 in Botswana but won the return leg 1-0 to proceed to the next round on away goals following a 2-2 aggregate.
