Football: Crunch moment as Kenya clash with Zambia in decisive Tokyo Olympics qualifiers

Kenya Harambee Starlets' Coach David Ouma instruct players during their first leg of Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifier match against Zambia at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Friday, Nov 8, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Zambia coach warns her charges not to get carried over by away goals from first leg.

There is still plenty to play for as Kenya national women's football team Harambee Starlets lock horns with Zambia's Shepolopolo in today's return leg tie of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers at Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka.

But with Friday's first leg in Nairobi having ended in a 2-2 draw, the Starlets have their work cut out as they need a high-scoring draw or a win to progress to the final qualifying round.

Rachael Kundananji cut short Corazone Aquino's celebration when she scored midway through the second half on Friday to throw the game wide open.

Marthe Tembo scored an won-goal to cancel out her teammate Grace Chanda's early opener.

Kenya were vulnerable at the back with the speedy trio of Chanda, Kundananji and Barbra Banda tormenting the fullbacks.

The winner on aggregate will battle either Cameroon or Ivory Coast in the final round, whose victor will directly qualify for next year’s global show-piece in Japan, while the loser will play Chile in the inter-confederation playoffs.

Giants Cameroon face off with Ivory Coast in Yaoundé tomorrow. The first leg ended in a barren draw in Abidjan, on Saturday night.

Though both coaches admitted the qualification race is still wide open, Kenya's David Ouma is aware of the task ahead of them as they still need to produce some magic to overcome a tactical and free-scoring Zambian outfit at their own backyard.

"We could have defended better in the first leg, but I think Zambia have very physical and quality players who gave us a lot of troubles on the wide areas," said Ouma.

"But as a coach, I'm not worried at all and we are going to work on how to destabilise their flanks. We have known Zambia's strengths and therefore they are still beatable even at their own backyard. It's still a 50-50 situation, we have a chance and we are going to take it with both hands."

"I believe as a home team, they will be under a lot of pressure, what we need is to be composed and at least get a goal. The girls know we still have the potential and chance to make the impossible, possible. We need to go there, show the resilience and our capability to overturn the tables."

And for Zambia coach Bruce Mwape, his charges will aim at staying focused and not get carried away by their two away goals.

"It is not over yet and we can't celebrate the two goals because we still have another 90 minutes of football to play in Lusaka. We will only celebrate after the final whistle in Lusaka," said Mwape.

Meanwhile, the national men's football team Harambee Stars was expected to depart for Cairo, Egypt last night (10pm) ahead of their Group G opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Pharaohs on Thursday.

Francis Kimanzi's men will have limited time before they play Togo on November 19 at Kasarani Stadium.

Kariobangi Sharks defender Daniel Sakari is the only player, who has been dropped from the initial 25-man squad named by Kimanzi.

Save for Patrick Matasi (St George SC), Eric Ouma (Vasalunds IF) and Joseph Okumu (IF Elfsborg), the other foreign-based players will link up with the team in Cairo.

The other local-based players, who have been in a non-residential camp, were to fly out immediately after yesterday's league matches.