Vihiga Queens Keeper Lilian Awour Joins French Club

Vihiga Queens goalkeeper Lilian Onyango Awuor named the Woman of the match [photo courtesy]

Following her stellar performance accruing from Kenya’s recent participation in the CAF WCL Zonal Qualifiers (CECAFA) and TotalEnergies CAF Women's Champions League in Nairobi Kenya and Cairo, Egypt respectively last year, Vihiga Queens goalkeeper has landed a French division one club signing.

Lilian Awuor is set to join ASJ Soyaux-Charente (Association Sportive Jeunesse de Soyaux Charente) commonly known as Soyaux Women Football Club that plays in the top tier in France.

The custodian received myriad offers from clubs but settled for the France team. Confirming the development, Vihiga Queen's executive committee thanked her for her services and wished her well in her new assignment.

“The Executive Committee of Vihiga Queens Football Club is proud to announce that our goalkeeper Lilian Awour Onyango is set to travel to France to join ASJ Soyaux-Charente (Association Sportive Jeunesse de Soyaux Charente) commonly-known as Soyaux Women Football Club that plays in the French top division (Division 1Feminine),” read a statement from Queens. 

Lilian will jet out of the country on Sunday evening to join her new club and land in Paris, France on the morning of 17th January 2022.

19 years Awour was one of the Kenyan players who stood out in the tournament, being named Woman of the match in the first game against Mamelodi Sundowns despite Queens losing the game, and was equally outstanding in the second match against FAR Rabat as the Kenyan representatives won the game 2-0.

She made 19 saves, the most of any goalkeeper; she faced 24 shots on target, a joint-high alongside Malabo King’s Ruth Sunday earning her a golden glove award. 

Against Angels, she kept Queens in the game before they finally cracked after the hour mark.

Queens exited the CAF Women Champions League after finishing bottom in group B after falling to a shocking 4-0 defeat in the hands of Nigeria’s Rivers Angels FC who had lost their opening two matches.

In December, when asked about the numerous offers she had received after her show at the continental stage, the custodian chose to remain tight-lipped but admitted that there were still ongoing talks.

"Yes there are teams that are after me but talks are still ongoing and when everything is complete people will know," she said.

Awour who doubles as Harambee Starlet keeper represented Kenya at the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations and was one of the back-up goalkeepers to Samantha Akinyi.

She made her debut for the team in a 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Sudan.

Athletics
Kenya hoping to defend World Cross Country title in Belgrade
Football
Fifa threatens Kenya with ban again
Unique Sports
SCHOOLS: Lenana School, Kisumu Girls and Agoro Sare turn focus on national games finals
Motorsport
Safari Rally: 29 drivers set for epic showdown as Safari Rally zooms off