Starlets demolish Djibouti 12-0 to enter semifinals

Harambee Starlets celebrate their victory during Olympic Qualifiers match against Black Queens of Ghana at Kasarani on Tuesday Oct 8, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

National women’s football team Harambee Starlets have joined champions Tanzania in the semifinals of the on-going Cecafa Championship after demolishing debutants Djibouti 12-0 in yesterday’s Group B match at Chamazi Stadium, Dar es Salaam.

Wiyeta Girls forward Jentrix Shikangwa scored four goals to inspire Starlets to their second win in the regional tournament after seeing off Ethiopia 2-0 in their opening match on Sunday.

Diminutive Thika Queens forward Mwanahalima Adam and Mercy Airo bagged a hat-trick each as Vivian Makokha and Janet Bundi scored a goal apiece in Kenya’s emphatic triumph.

Shikangwa netted a quick-fire first half brace (14th and 17th minutes), just after Makokha had opened the floodgates. Adam and Bundi then got themselves on the score-sheet to ensure the losing 2016 finalists go into the break with a 5-0 lead.

Airo scored her first goal of the afternoon in the 53rd minute followed by Shikangwa’s third goal three minutes later.

Airo was on target again in the 61st minute before completing her hat-trick from the spot four minutes later.

Shikangwa made it 10-0 in the 85th minute before Adam’s double strike in the 87th and 90th minutes.

Kenya will face off with Uganda’s Crested Cranes, who were due to tackle Ethiopia last evening, in a highly anticipated final preliminary round match tomorrow. The Crested Cranes humiliated Djibouti 13-0 in their opening match.

Tanzania’s Twiga Stars also booked their semifinal slot after registering their second Group A victory on Monday.

Stars trounced Burundi 4-0, two days after thrashing South Sudan 9-0 in their tournament opener.