Harambee Starlets' coach David Ouma believes every team in their Group B of the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) has a chance to qualify for the semifinals.
The national women's football team, who will be making their debut in the tournament that kicks off on Saturday in Yaounde and Limbe, Cameroon, have been drawn in ‘group of death’, given the pedigree of their opponents.
They will battle against nine-time champions Nigeria, three-time runner-up Ghana and regulars Mali.
But having been scheduled against Ghana (November 20) and Mali (November 23) in their opening fixtures, two matches before facing champions Nigeria (November 26), Ouma feels the Starlets are slightly favoured by the fixture.
“We have had good preparations since we qualified for the tournament and our early arrival here in Cameroon has been advantageous to the team.
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“The players are adapting well despite the high humidity,” Ouma told Feverpitch on a phone interview from Limbe.
“Whenever you have a defending champion and experienced opponents in your group, every team has equal chances because it throws the pool wide open. As far as I am concerned, playing Nigeria in the final fixture is good for us.
“I am more so motivated because I have a very dynamic squad ready to face any opponent.
“Unlike us, most of our opponents have foreign-based and experienced players who have won different individual awards. But I think the gap is now closed. We have proven in the few tournaments and friendly matches we have played where the likes of Esse Akida have also won individual awards. I am confident these girls can also contest for any award in the tournament,” added the former Sofapaka coach.
Meanwhile, all the three Group B Kenya’s opponents (Nigeria, Ghana and Mali) have released their squads for the upcoming tournament that kicks off on Saturday.
France-based duo of Evelyn Nwabuoku and Desire Oparanozie (Guingamp FC) , US-based attacking midfielder Franscisca Ordega and Arsenal Ladies’ ace Asisat Oshoala have all been included in Nigeria’s Super Falcons 21-member squad.
The Black Queens of Ghana have the duo of Sweden-based Elizabeth Addo (Kvarnsvedensik) and Dayton Dutch Lions’ Florence Danson in their team.
Mali have also released their squad that will be led by France-based duo of Sebe Coulibaly (Tremblay FC), Aminata Doucoure and Djeneba Baradji (RC Saint Denis).
