Cecafa: Starlets thrash Burundi to glide into final

Kenya Harambee Starlets' Mwanalima Adam 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]

National women’s football team Harambee Starlets have stormed into the final of the 2019 Cecafa Championship in style after thrashing Burundi 5-0 at Chamazi Stadium, in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Kenya will be aiming to avenge their 2-1 defeat to Tanzania’s Twiga Stars in the last edition of the regional tournament held in 2016 in Uganda, when the two sides clash in the final again tomorrow.

The hosts laboured to beat Uganda Cranes 1-0 in the second semifinals at the same venue on Saturday.

Red-hot Vihiga Queens forward Jentrix Shikangwa scored a brace to take her tournament’s tally to seven goals as Starlets made light work of the Burundian side.

Captain Dorcas Shikobe, Mwanalima Adam and Corazone Aquino scored a goal each in the emphatic victory.

With the win, Kenya have maintained their 100 per cent record in the tournament after winning their last three group B matches against Ethiopia (2-0), Djibouti (12-0) and Uganda (3-0).

Saturday’s result left head coach David Ouma a happy man as he beamed with confidence ahead of tomorrow’s final.

“I am happy with not only the result but also the performance of the team. Our focus is now on the final, and I am confident that we will come home with the trophy,” said coach Ouma.