U20 WCQ: Journey over for Rising Starlets in defeat to visiting Cameroon

Kenya womens U20 team’s hopes of qualifying to next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup came to a crushing halt as they lost 3-2 to visiting Cameroon in the third round second tie played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday afternoon.

A stunning hattrick from Cameroon captain Naomi Eto was enough to send them through, ending Kenya’s journey, in an aggregate score of 6-2.

Kenya, who had succumbed to a 3-0 loss on the road last Saturday in Douala, got their goals from second half substitute Charity Midewa, but they were ultimately not enough to overturn the tie.

Kenya were forced to make a change before kickoff when Valerie Nekesa was brought on to replace the suspended Fasila Adhiambo, and it didn’t take long for her to create the game’s first chance as she fed on Elizabeth Mideva who forced Cameroon’s custodian Cathy Biya out of her area but to no avail.

Moments later, Anna Arusi forced Biya to a save on her nearpost, with Mideva flashing her left foot shot wide after 23 minutes.

The Rising Starlets’ intent here was clear, and after dominating the opening phases of the game, crashed in a moment when Cameroonian captain Naomi Eto found space in the middle of the park before unleashing a strong right-footed shot that went past Scovia Awuor for the opening goal.

The goal was her second in the two-legged tie after scoring the team’s third goal in the first leg in Douala.

Trailing 4-0 on aggregate didn’t seem to have an effect on the Kenyans as after Mideva was fouled just outside the box in the 31st minute, Arusi with the resultant freekick rattled the crossbar, marking their first real go at goal.

Shaylene Opisa was then through on goal in the last minute of first half added time but shot straight at Biya, seeing the visitors maintain their goal advantage to the break.

A quick start from the break was anything Kenya needed, and it was all that happened as the team lined up for the restart having made twin changes to their side.

The duo of Ruth Akinyi and Charity Midewa got on to the scene and it was the latter who gave Kenya her first goal in the tie when she latched to Shaylene Opisa’s cross from the left to drive her ball past Biya and into the net.

Double trouble for Gor Mahia as FKF Leagues and Competitions Committee imposes sanctions

With her first touch in the game, Midewa was on the scoresheet but joy wasn’t to last any long.

A tangle between Tabitha Amoit and Cristiante Kiki saw the former penalized for a handball inside the area and with the resulting spotkick, the team’s skipper Eto stepped up to lash the ball past an outstretched Awuor in goal.

2-1 didn’t take long to be 3-1 when Kiki again torched Kenyan hearts with a long-range right footed shot from yards out that Awuor could only palm into her own net.

Shumah pledges to reclaim place in Harambee Stars after omission from World Cup qualifiers

The goal necessitated two other changes from head coach Odemba as she brought off Awuor for the second string Christine Adhiambo, with Hellen Auma getting her place for Opisa.

Kenya at the end did get a goal to celebrate when Midewa again rose highest to connect a backpost header past Biya for Kenya’s second goal, but one that only made the scoreboard more decent.

World Cup journey over.

STARTING XI.

Kenya: Scovia Awour, Racel Adhiambo, Judith Okumu, Tabitha Amoit, Rebecca Kwoba, Sharon Vidah, Sharlyne Opisa, Valerie Nekesa, Elizabeth Mideva, Elizabeth Muteshi, Anna Arusi

SUBS: Clotilda Auma, Sunira Manda, Charity Midewa, Ann Ochieng, Ruth Akinyi, Hellen Mito, Emily Okute, Ivonne Minage, Christine Adhiambo.

Cameroon: Cathy Biya, Marlene Essimi, Mariane Ines, Orline Djuitchie, Sophie Lemana, Naomi Eto, Bernadette Ngaseh, Sky Yemdji, Annie Enganemben, Andree Ngo Bilong, Alexandra Mbitounou.

SUBS: Clarisse Abumba, Berenice Mvembe, Oceane Nana, Octavie Ondoa, Christiane Meva, Vitoire Todou, Chelsea Ngole, Makana Yakana, Elna Chiapi.