Kenya’s Harambee Starlets are on the brink of history, qualifying for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the second time. Starlets last qualified for the Continental showpiece in 2016 and coach Beldine Odemba is seeking to take the team back to the top.
They are just 90 minutes away from achieving this dream, as they face Gambia in the return leg of the final round of qualification in Senegal. They carry a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Nairobi, and will just need to avoid defeat in Senegal to qualify.
Despite carrying what looks like a healthy advantage, Odemba has warned the girls of complicity. Speaking to Telecomasia.net ahead of the game, the tactician says they have to approach the game with a 0-0 mentality.
The job is not done yet. We need to ensure we remain focused for the next 90 minutes. The urge and the hunger is there. It has been 10 years since we played at the WAFCON and we want to break that duck. We have a two goal cushion, though we should have had more and we need to protect it at all costs. We want to celebrate after the final whistle in Senegal and the girls are very focused for that. There are only a few who have tasted WAFCON action in this team and they did so as young girls back in 2016. Now, we want to ensure that all of us get a feel of it.
In the team, Only captain Dorcas Shikobe and leftback Enez Mango were in the team that qualified in 2016.
