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STARLETS' DAY OF GLORY: Harambee Starlets qualify for Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after draw with Algeria

Football

By Gilbert Wandera | Apr 12, 2016

Harambee Starlets Caroline Anyango under pressure from Algeria's Habiba Sadou during their African Women Championship qualifier match at Kasarani Stadium on April 12, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Harambee Stars could not do it, but Harambee Starlets did it.

The last time the men team qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations was in 2004 and since then it has been heartache. The women team, however, showed them the way on Tuesday as they held Algeria 1-1 at Kasarani to book a slot in the African Women Cup of Nations set for Cameroon later in the year.

The golden Kenyan girls only needed a 1-1 draw or a barren draw after the 2-2 away draw in Algiers last Friday to book the slot on the away goal rule and they did not disappoint the local football fans who are growing used to failure by the men team.

Corazon Aquino was not only the Starlets heroine, but will also be the talk of football fans for sometimes as she pulled the hosts level after having conceded in the first half.

Hundreds of fans who turned up at the venue went into wild celebrations immediately the final whistle went off reviving memories of 2003 when former Harambee Stars captain Dennis Oliech scored against Cape Verde to send Stars to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

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The visitors started strongly with Benlazer Yasmin trying a cheeky long range shot in the second minute of the match, but her shot was comfortably dealt with Starlets by custodian Samatha Akinyi.

Algeria conceded a corner kick in the ninth minute but Mary Kinuthia was ably stopped by the Algerian defenders.

In the 16th minute, Mwanahalima Dogo Adam's goal was disallowed after she was ruled to have been in an offside position.

Carolyne Omondi was particularly lethal at the back and she kept the Algerian backline on toes with great dribbling.

The home team survived a scare in the 18th minute after failing to cut out an attack by their opponents and the ball found Habiba Sadou unmarked. Her header was not strong enough to bother the Kenyan goalkeeper.

But Kenya were soon in trouble when Bouhani Naima netted in the 20th from a set piece. The Kenyan backline took too long to clear the ball allowing Naima to bang home.

The Starlets were not ready to give up even after conceding and kept up the pressure. Mary Kinuthia was denied by the post just before half time.

Inspired by the narrow advantage, Algeria kept up the pressure on resumption and nearly went ahead on resumption. But several changes made by Starlets coach David Ouma ensured that the visitors were kept under pressure forcing them to resort to time wasting tactics and with warnings from the referee.

‎ The pressure from Starlets finally paid off in the 79th minute with Aquino scoring from another set piece and fans went into frenzy as they celebrated every move by the Starlets.