Starlets’ win not enough: Rwanda progress despite losing 2-1 in Machakos

By GILBERT WANDERA and REBECCA GICHANA

National women’s team, Starlets, failed to progress to the second round of the Africa Women Championships despite beating Rwanda 2-1 at the  Machakos Municipal Stadium yesterday.

The She Amavubi, had won the first leg 1-0 at home in Kigali and go into the second round on 2-2 goal aggregate, but enjoy the away goal benefit, which was scored yesterday.

Jackline  Ogolla put the hosts ahead with a clinical free kick at the quarter hour mark but Rwanda were back in the match fifteen minutes later through Jeamme Nyirahatashimana.

But Kenya went to the break ahead after Mural Auma beat an off-side trap to score the winner five minutes to the recess.

The visitors showed more urgency for goals and should have been rewarded in the fifth minute when Sophie Niyomugaba beat the Kenyan back line but hesitated to pull the trigger giving room for the danger to be cleared.

The first Kenyan attack came in the seventh minute but Jackline Akinyi was blocked from getting past the Rwandese defence line.

But the home team was not giving up and their first chance at goal came after 10 minutes of play when Neddy Atieno’s free kick was put out by Judith Ingubire for the first corner of the game.

Five minutes later, Jackline Akinyi did not make a mistake and put the hosts ahead from a brilliantly taken free kick.

The goal did not discourage the visitors who went all out for an equaliser by putting the Kenyan back line under pressure. It was always a question of when their efforts will be rewarded as the match progressed.

At the half hour mark, Rwanda won a free kick near the edge of the Kenyan goal and from it Nyirahatashimana shot directly for their only goal.

Ten minutes later, the home team was back in the lead through Mural Auma who was given a free way by the visitors after they hesitated to pick the ball from her thinking she had crossed the off-side line.

Rwanda went on the offensive immediately on resumption and should have been ahead in the 50th minute when Claine Uwamahoro collided with Kenyan goalkeeper Rosemary Aluoch while trying to head in the ball.

Three minutes later, Neddy Atieno’s header went close as Kenya rested Pauline Musungu for Ann Onyango.

However, the Rwandese  side still dominated and even after Claine Uwamahoro was sent off for a second bookable offence, the visitors did not crack at all. Rwanda  will play Nigeria in the second round of the competition on March 14.

The winner qualifies automatically to the African women championships finals to be played in Namibia this October.

The competition will also be used to pick the African representative to next year’s Women World Cup, which will be played in Costa Rica.