Harambee Starlets registers a draw against Botswana in WAFCON qualifier match

By Peter Ochieng

The Kenya national women football team, Harambee Starlets managed a 1-1 draw against visitors Botswana in the first leg match of the last round of qualifiers to the 2024 Africa Women Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

All the goals were scored in the first half at the Nyayo national stadium. Bostwana scored first before Kenya equalized courtesy of a Marjolene Nekesa penalty towards the tail end of the first half.

Violet Nanjala missed a key penalty in what turned out to be the last action of the tight match to keep scores at 1-1, going into the second leg encounter in Botswana next week.

Kenya and Botswana need a win of any kind to qualify for the tournament, which will be the 15th edition. It will be hosted by Morocco in consecutive editions, having hosted the previous edition two years ago. South Africa are the defending champions.

Before reaching this stage, Starlets beat Cameroon while Botswana dumped out Zambia. Both teams have qualified for WAFCON only once in history, with Kenya making it to the 2016 edition in Cameroon.

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports Ababu Namwamba has pledged Sh5 million to Starlets if the team books a ticket to Morocco.

"The same way we support our sports men; we must similarly support our sports women. The same support we give to Harambee Stars must be extended to Harambee Starlets. And so the same package we offered Harambee Stars must be available to the girls,” he said.

"There are plans already in a top European playing nation for a training camp in the build-up to the tournament," added the CS.

FKF President Nick Mwendwa has welcomed the government’s gesture. "I would tell you that since I was here, we have never been supported and support is not just money. When did you last see me on the pitch with a minister watching training? We are doing these things now regularly. We haven't gotten there completely; we are on our way but the spirit from the government and the ministry have been so good," he noted.

Beldine Odemba’s charges must now go back to the drawing board and prepare, ahead of the second leg match in Botswana on Tuesday, next week.