OUMA’S TAKE ON STARLETS: Coach says his team lacked mental strength as they are knocked out of Nations Cup

Harambee Starlet's Ann Aluoch is challenged by Henriette Akaba (left) of Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon during Friendly match at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday, Oct 22, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

National women’s football team, Harambee Starlets head coach David Ouma has lamented his team’s mental weakness.

The coach said it was the main reason for the early elimination from this year’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nation after their second successive Group B defeat to Mali (3-1) in Limbe, Cameroon on Wednesday night.

Having controversially lost to the Black Queens of Ghana by the same margin in their opening game, many expected the East African side to bounce back against the Malians who had been hammered 6-0 by champions Nigeria.

However, that never came to pass as sloppy defending and profligacy upfront cost the home girls dearly. Ironically, Kenya was the first team to arrive in Cameroon for the tenth edition of the tournament and they are the first team to exit.

Sebe Coulibaly beat Starlets goalkeeper Samantha Akinyi with a well curved free kick on the stroke of halftime to put Mali on the driving seat before Bassira Diarra capitalised on Kenya’s defensive lapse to double the lead four minutes into the second half.

Diarra then converted from the spot on the hour mark before Spedag midfielder Cheris Avilla pulled a goal back for the debutants in the 77th minute.

But according to the former Sofapaka coach, being their first appearance on the continental scene, it is somehow good for the team to learn on the hard way.

“It is unfortunate that we have not met our target of reaching the semis in our first AWCON competition. The game turned out to be difficult just as I had earlier predicted. It was an end to end game and both of us created chances. But Mali were more clinical than us and whenever we missed a scoring chance, they punished us immediately. If we had taken our chances, the result would have been different,” said Ouma.

“But I think the best player on the pitch was their goalkeeper, who had a fantastic second half. They were also somehow lucky in the first half when their defenders made two goal-line clearances. Sometimes in football you can do everything on the pitch, but fail to get the goals.”

The coach said his team had suffered psychologically from the results of the first game saying they had good planning against Ghana that’s why they played with a lot of resilience, but we were mentally disturbed after the game.

He was,however, happy that after such a grueling match his players were able to turn up against Mali.

“Mali won like all balls on 50-50 situation and that shows exactly the mental strength of a team. We are normally good at that, but on Wednesday Mali were better. We are slowly growing and we hope to achieve our targets in the next tournament,” he said.

Despite being the first team to exit the competition, Ouma is pleased with the potential and abilities of his players.

“I would like to congratulate my players and the fact that our national anthem has been belted severally at this highest level of the competition. My players have the potential, ability and I know their quality. The only thing is to develop them in their mental strength so that they can have nerves and immunity to avoid being tormented psychologically,” he said.

“When you play at the top level you are not supposed to protest in whatever way possible. They are growing harshly. It is better to learn in a hard way on your first attempt so that when you comeback you can become a champion.”

He is, however, optimistic of pulling off a surprise against Nigeria in tomorrow’s dead rubber at Limbe Omnisports Stadium.

“We are going into Nigeria game knowing very well that there are still three points on the card. Yes, we respect Nigeria and being the champions we are fully aware of their strength. But in football anything is possible,” added Ouma.