Ghana leave Kenya chasing shadows: Visitors humble Kenyans in Fifa U-20 World Cup qualifiers

KENYA VS GHANA Harambee Starlet's Quinter Owiti (left) and Gladys Amfobea of Ghana Princes fight for ball control at Kenyatta stadium on Nov 19, 2017. in Machakos. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Princella Adubea stars in her side’s 5-1 win at Machakos.

Kenya are out of the Fifa U-20 Women World Cup qualifiers after they lost 5-1 to Ghana in a second round fixture yesterday at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Ghana go into the third and final round with a 10-1 aggregate and will now face Cameroon, who got a bye in the second round after their opponents Sierra Leone pulled out.

Olivia Anokye opened the scores for Ghana before Princella Adubea scored twice in the eighth and 46th minutes.

Grace Acheampong scored the fourth goal in the 75th minute, with Adubea adding her third three minutes to the full time.

Rachael Mwema pulled one back for Kenya in the added minute, which did little to salvage the fast-sinking ship.

It was definitely going to be a tall order for the hosts to overturn a 5-0 first leg deficit.

It became more complicated when seven key players, who featured in the previous qualification campaign, missed the match as they are currently sitting for their Form Four national exams.

The players are; Sheryl Angachi, Cynthia Shilwatso, Maureen Khakasa, Cynthia Akinyi, Sharon Adhiambo, Mercy Airo and Vivian Nasaka.

Khakasa, Shilwatso and Nasaka scored in the previous qualifiers against Botswana and Ethiopia.

Kenya defeated Botswana 7-1 on aggregate and 4-3 against Ethiopia.

The Ghanaians knew what was expected of them and wasted little time in making their intentions clear. One minute after the kick-off whistle, Olivia Anokye gave the visitors the lead through a long-range shot that left Kenya’s goalkeeper Lilian Awour helpless.

The Ghanaians were clearly the better side as they dominated play with ease, forcing the Kenyans to make unforced mistakes in their yard.

Seven minutes later, Princella Adubea delivered Ghana’s second goal through a free-kick.

The Kenyans resorted to long balls but Ghana’s defence was up to the task. They warded off any attacks without much hassle.

Kenya’s clear chance came in the 23rd minute when Sharon Adhiambo advanced brilliantly but her efforts could not bother Ghanaian custodian Martha Annan. The West Africans had tasted blood and went for the kill. Adubea beat Awour for her second goal in the dying minutes of the first half.

On resumption, Kenya came back strongly with Gentrix Shikanga having a goal-scoring chance but blew her effort off target.

The hosts brought in Judith Osimbo for Awour as the goals kept on raining. Ghana oozed class as they intensified their attacks.