READY TO SHINE

Harambee Starlets ready to upset Cameroon in Wafcon qualifiers

Seasoned forward Mwanahalima Adam said she was confident they would claim the scalp of their West African opponents.

In Summary

•The Starlets are scheduled to depart for Cameroon on Tuesday for their first-leg match in Douala.

•The victor of the second round will secure automatic qualification for the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco.

Harambee Starlets Violet Nanjala controls the ball during a training session at Kasarani Annex
Harambee Starlets Violet Nanjala controls the ball during a training session at Kasarani Annex
Image: HANDOUT

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba reckons her charges are ready to take the fight to the doorstep of the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon. 

The Starlets are scheduled to depart for Cameroon on Tuesday for their first-leg match in Douala.

The two nations will face off in the first leg of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers on September 22.

"We've done adequate preparations and I'm confident we are going to perform well against Cameroon," Odemba said. "We have all our players in camp except one who will be joining us later."

Odemba said she used their friendly against Kenya Police Bullets to identify and smoothen the rough edges in her squad.

"The friendly match was worthwhile and I believe it helped us put our house in order," Odemba remarked. 

Odemba said they would be going all out for goals both in Douala and in Nairobi. 

"Like I said before, our goal is to adopt a proactive approach in Cameroon. We are not going there to defend. Our focus will be to score as many goals as we can," Odemba said. 

Seasoned forward Mwanahalima Adam said she is confident they will claim the scalp of their West African opponents. 

"Cameroon must fall. Most of us have played together for long and I think we already know what is expected of us on the pitch. We are going to win," Adam said. 

Team captain Ruth Ingotsi said she is satisfied with the level of preparations done so far. 

"Whatever we've learnt is enough to help us register a positive outcome in Douala. The morale in the camp is high and we are ready to make the country proud," Ingotsi said. 

The team will return home on Sunday, in time for the second-leg match on September 26. Should Starlets emerge as the aggregate winners of the two-legged qualifier, they will be pitted against either Gabon or Botswana in the second round, scheduled for between November 27 and December 5.

The victor of the second round will secure automatic qualification for the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco.