KENYA FACE ETHIOPIA: Starlets are on a revenge mission against tournament's favourites

CECAFA SENIOR WOMEN CHAMPIOSHIP IN JINJA Kenya Harambee Starlets players trains during their Cecafa Senior Women Championship in Jinja, Uganda on Monday 12/09/16.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Harambee Starlets are two matches away from making history by winning the inaugural Cecafa Women tournament in Uganda.

But first, the David Ouma-handled side must overcome Ethiopia this afternoon in the first semi-final. The second semi-final is between hosts Uganda and Tanzania.

The Starlets have been on a roll since they started taking part in international competitions this year.

They made history by qualifying for the Women Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Cameroon in November.

One month ago, they were semi-finalists in an international tournament held in Spain.

The team has been on fire at the regional tournament and on their way to the semi-finals, they beat Uganda and Burundi by identical 4-0 scores before hammering Zanzibar 11-0.

But Ethiopia poses a great danger to the Kenyan girls.

The last time they two sides met in an international friendly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia won 5-0.

David Ouma is expected to have back in the squad left back Wendy Achieng, right back Ann Aluoch, midfielders Carolyne Anyango and Cheris Avilia who were rested in the final group A preliminary match against Zanzibar.

Wingers Neddy Atieno and Esse Akida who came in as substitutes in the Zanzibar match are expected in the starting line-up alongside team captain Mary Kinuthia.

Ethiopia has very swift midfielders in the name of Etsegenet Bizuneh,Emebet Addisu and Berktawit Girma who have been brilliant in terms of feeding crosses to the attackers and if Kenya will cut the supply they will contain the Ethiopians.

Kenya will also have to contain Ethiopian wingers, the duo of Shetaye Sisaya and Rosa Abera.

Sisaya has been an instrumental player in the tournament delivering crosses from the left wing and she has shown the ability to deliver in front of goal despite missing several chances especially in their match against Tanzania.

Abera has scored two goals so far in the tournament from their opening fixture against Rwanda.

Hosts, Uganda will take on Tanzania in the second semi-final from 3:30 pm.

Kenya topped Group A with nine points ahead of Uganda who had six, while Tanzania topped Group B after a coin toss following a barren draw against Ethiopia in their last preliminary match.

A total of 50 goals have been scored from nine matches played at the group stages to post an average of 6.1 goals per match where Kenya’s Esse Akida tops the scoring chat with five goals and is closely followed by another Kenyan, Corazone Aquino and Uganda’s Nasuna Hasifa who have scored four goals each.