Harambee Starlets seek to extend their good run against Ghana in Turkey

Harambee Starlet's Fociah Khaele (left) and Princella Adubea of Ghana Princes fight for ball control in past match[Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya women’s national football team Harambee Starlets will seek to assert their dominance in the ongoing Turkish Women Cup when they face Ghana’s Black Queens on Wednesday, March 11.

The match comes on a backdrop of a 5-0 defeat to Chile and a 3-0 win for Ghana against Northern Ireland, setting up a great encounter between the two sides.

Both are tied on three points from two matches – both having lost heavily to Chile.  

Harambee Starlets head coach David Ouma, who spoke to a local outlet expressed confidence in his team, hoping to rectify the mistakes made against Chile and get a win over their African counterparts.

Ouma underlined the importance of set pieces to the team, having worked well in their previous two matches.

In their encounter last year at the Kasarani Stadium, Starlet’s Gentrix Shikangwa stepped up in the dying minutes of the game to slot in from the penalty spot, consequently edging out Ghana in the third round of the Olympic Qualifiers.

The in-form Shikangwa has scored once in the tournament and coach Ouma hopes she will extend her good run against the Black Queens.

But Ghana won’t be a walk in the park for Ouma’s side. They come into the match with a boost in confidence after thrashing Northern Ireland 4-0 in a one-sided match.

The Black Queens, by the stroke of half time had already mauled their opponents 3-0.

Kenya and Ghana will be fighting for second place in the group, which will guarantee either of them a third-place playoff against the second-placed team in group A.

Kenya is in Group B with Ghana, Chile and last placed Northern Ireland.

Chile already have one foot in the finals and will face off with group A leaders.

The ongoing tournament has seen a total of 28 goals scored with nine teams competing after Venezuela pulled out of the competition.