The Rising Starlets arrived in the country this afternoon from Cameroon, fully aware of the uphill battle they face in the return leg of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Cameroon.
The first leg, which took place at Stade Ahmadou on Saturday evening, ended with Cameroon securing a 3-0 victory. All three goals were scored in the first half, setting a challenging precedent for the Rising Starlets.
Coach Beldine Odemba is now focused on strategizing for the upcoming match, hoping that her team can overturn the result and enhance their chances of qualifying for the global showpiece that will be staged in Columbia.
Despite the formidable task at hand, Odemba faces the additional challenge of being without eight members of her squad who are currently occupied with their national secondary school examinations.
Among the absentees is captain Jane Hato of Madira Soccer Assassins, who is currently engaged in exams at Vihiga-based Madira Girls Secondary School.
Hato’s absence will be felt, but the team looks to Zetech Sparks’s defender Rebecca Kwoba to step up and assume the captain’s role, a responsibility she already shouldered in the previous match in Cameroon.
Despite the setbacks, the Rising Starlets are gearing up for the crucial second leg, scheduled to take place on Friday, the 17th, at Nyayo National Stadium, kicking off at 3 PM.
The team remains determined to overcome the challenges and secure a positive outcome in this vital qualifying match.
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