Marjolen Nekesa makes Champions League start in group game loss to Brann

Kenyan international Marjolen Nekesa on Wednesday night made her return to the starting lineup for her side - Slavia Prague - as they played to a 1-0 loss to Norwegian opponents Brann in their second UEFA Women’s Champions League group game staged at the Brann Stadion.

Nekesa, who scored in both legs of her team’s qualifying round matchup against Olimpia Cluj, was among the three changes to coach Karel Piták’s lineup, having been benched in the team’s first Group B game against Lyon on 14 November.

The Kenyan then, was introduced in the 69th minute to replace 23 year old Haleigh Kae Stackpole.

But on Wednesday night, Nekesa made a start, and ended up clocking 74 minutes albeit in another loss, one inflicted upon by Brann striker Larissa Crummer, who rose highest to convert Amalie Eikeland’s high cross from the right side in the 21st minute.

The defeat means that Slavia Prague have a long route to climb in Group B, especially after leaders Lyon registered a 2-0 victory over SKN St. Polten to tie with Brann on six points from two matches.

The saving grace for Nekesa’s side would be that they now play a double match with the Austrian representatives, first on December 13 from 18:45 in Austria, then at home in Eden on December 21 from 21:00.

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Nekesa made her Champions League debut on 20 October 2022 when she came off the bench in a group stage match against Italian outfit AS Roma staged at the Stadio Domenico Francioni.

The 25 year old was on Sunday named in the Harambee Starlets squad set to face Botswana in the second round of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Qualifiers this November.