National women’s football side, Harambee Starlets, take on South Sudan’s Bright Starlets in a round one clash as the home girls begin their campaign for a ticket to the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) set for Morocco next year.A win for Harambee in the two-legged encounter that will be played at Nyayo National Stadium, with the first leg set for Wednesday 20 October 2021 and the return match for Sunday 24 October at the same venue, will put them one step closer to making a return to the continental showpiece. The winner of the clash between between Kenya and South Sudan will meet the winner between Uganda and Ethiopia in the final round of qualification.It’s MATCHDAY!!!🏆 2022 AWCON Qualifiers🆚 South Sudan📅 Wednesday, October 20, 2021🏟️ Nyayo Stadium⌚ 4 pm EAT#Tunaweza pic.twitter.com/bq4sbNtEw3— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) October 20, 2021 Kenya made her debut at the AWCON in 2016 where they were knocked out in the group stage after loses to Ghana, Mali and Nigeria. In 2018, the team failed to make it to the final and coach Charles Okere is looking to guide his charges to make a comeback at that level. The tactician, up until the eve of the match, had not named his final 23 from the 28 in camp and is faced with tough choices to make ahead of the encounter. “We respect South Sudan as a team and that will show in how we approach the match. They recently picked some experience as they played in the COSAFA Championship and now we are up against them. Regardless, I am confident in my team and they are ready,” said Okere. In the absence of long serving skipper Dorcas Shikobe and her partner Ruth Ingosi who played a pivotal role in defence during the Olympics qualifiers and the CECAFA championship, it remains to be seen who Okere will have marshalling the backline. Harambee Starlets set to miss defensive duo for South Sudan clashThe tactician has Vihiga’s trio led by the experienced Phoebe Oketch who has previously featured for the national team, the three-time Women Premier League (WPL) champions skipper Enez Mango who was recently crowned the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women’s Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP) and teammate Vivian Nasaka who has been instrumental for club.Thika’s Nelly Sawe, a constant figure in Harambee’s teamsheet in the recent past, Kayole’s Juliet Adipo and Nakuru’s Dorcas Neema and Lucy Akoth a regular in the national team are up for selection in defence. On the post, ‘Kenya One’, Annette Kundu who was instrumental in Kenya bagging her maiden CECAFA Women’s title in 2019 is looking maintain her place as the first choice goalkeeper. However, having been unattached for more than three months since leaving Lakatamia FC, she faces tough competition from the on-form duo of Vihiga’s Lilian Awuor who guided her team to qualifying for the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League and Ulinzi’s Maureen Shimuli, fresh from helping her side win the inaugural Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women’s Cup. Awuor won the golden glove award at the conclusion of the Cup. Kibera’s Pauline Katharu is also up for selection. In midfield, Sheril Angachi and the team captain Corazone Aquino are more likely to feature as they bring with them a wealth of experience, being some of the longest serving members of the team as currently constituted as does Thika’s Lydia Akoth.With the Vihiga duo of Maureen Ater and Mercy Oginga as well as the promising Trans Nzoia’s Martha Amunyolete among others in the list, Okere has his work cut out as far as selection goes. South Sudan’s Bright Starlets have on Tuesday 19th October 2021 trained at Nyayo National Stadium in preparation for their 2022 AWCON qualifier match against Harambee Starlets of Kenya on Wednesday October 20, 2021 from 1600 hrs (EAT). @ssfa_com pic.twitter.com/yfKx2BfZ4t— Salient Sports Management (@SSMSportsAgency) October 19, 2021 Upfront, the experience and talent on offer could be Okere’s biggest headache. The on-form Vihiga Queens trio of Gentrix Shikangwa, Terry Engesha and Janet Bundi are vying for a starting berth against the lethal Thika duo of Mwanahalima Adam and Rachael Muema, a combination that worked magic for Thika Queens as they won the 2020/21 league unbeaten. Newbie Violet Wanyonyi, who finished the season as the league’s top score while at Trans Nzoia Falcons before switching allegiance to Vihiga is also beckoning for a chance to prove herself worth of a cap. Her speed and that of Gaspo winger Elizabeth Wambui would spell doom for any defence. As if that’s not talent enough, Ulinzi Starlets duo of Neddy Atieno and Lucy Mukhwana are making a comeback to the national team and, given a chance, they would cement themselves in the team’s starting lineup. The former is fresh from being crowned the FKF Women’s Cup top scorer.
