The Kenyan National Women’s Football Team, the Harambee Starlets, are through to the second round of the Women’s AFCON Qualifiers after beating a formidable Cameroonian side 4-3 on penalties on Tuesday, 26 September at Nyayo Stadium.
With the aggregate score tied at 1-0 after losing in the first leg, the pressure was on for the Starlets to deliver a stellar performance.
In an electrifying showdown at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium, Cynthia Shilwatso’s goal in the second half leveled the aggregate score, setting the stage for a dramatic penalty shootout to determine the victor.
The first half saw a dominant Beldin Odemba’s side striving to break through Cameroon’s defense, but the score remained locked at 0-0.
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Moreover, the tension in the stadium was palpable as both teams battled fiercely, knowing that a spot in the next round of the Afcon Qualifiers was hanging in the balance.
In the second half, the momentum shifted in favor of the Harambee Starlets, thanks to Cynthia Shilwatso’s precision strike.
Her goal sent the crowd into euphoria and leveled the aggregate score at 1-1, setting the stage for a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout Drama
With the match tied at 1-1 in aggregate, there was no room for error. The Nyayo Stadium crowd watched in awe as the penalty shootout unfolded.
The Starlets demonstrated nerves of steel, clinching victory with a final score of 4-3 on penalties as Sheryl Angachi scored the winning spot kick.
The Harambee Starlets emerged triumphant, earning a well-deserved spot in the second round of the Afcon Qualifiers.
Starlets’ Road to Victory
This remarkable victory for the Harambee Starlets comes after a challenging journey through the Afcon Qualifiers.
The entrant teams were seeded based on the FIFA Women’s World Ranking of June 2023 and their performance in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Kenya, ranked at 148, was drawn to face Cameroon, ranked at 56. The qualifiers consist of two rounds, with the winners of the first round advancing to the second round.
In August 2023, Kenya rose to 147 in the FIFA rankings, reflecting their growing prowess in women’s football.
The Starlets’ biggest win to date is a resounding 12-0 victory against Djibouti on November 19, 2019.
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Their first appearance in the Women’s Afcon was in 2016, where they exited in the group stage.
The defending champions of the Women’s Afcon are South Africa, who clinched the title in 2022.
The Starlets will face the winner of the match between Gabon and Botswana in their second-round fixture, with a victory guaranteeing them a place in the Women’s Afcon Morocco 2024 tournament.
