Rising Starlets coach Odemba has explained Fasila Adhiambo's absence from the crucial 2024 FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifiers match against Cameroon.
Rising Starlets coach Beldine Odemba has shed light on why dependable striker Fasila Adhiambo was conspicuously absent from their crucial 2024 FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon, which ended in a 2-3 loss on Friday.
Kenya went into the match having already suffered a 3-0 defeat in the first leg tie held in Yaoundé on November 11, 2023.
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FOOTBALL End of the road for Kenya’s Rising Starlets as Cameroon show class to advance to fourth round of World Cup qualifiers
Kenya’s Rising Starlets put in a gallant performance against Cameroon but the West Africans proved too good to sail through to the fourth round of 2024 World Cup qualifiers
Adhiambo, who also plies her trade with Ulinzi Starlets in the Kenyan Women Premier League (KWPL), was expected to lead the attack against Cameroon in Nairobi, but she was notably missing from the lineup.
"Fasilah Adhiambo did not play yesterday because he got two yellows, that is why he was not able to play in this match. In the other matches you have seen, she has done well, and we missed her in the midfield," Odemba said.
07:00 - 17.11.2023
FOOTBALL Kenya’s Rising Starlets keeping hope alive ahead of ‘mission impossible’ against Cameroon
Kenya’s Rising Starlets have not lost hope despite needing a 4-0 win against Cameroon on Friday to advance to the fourth round of the 2024 Under-20 World Cup qualifiers.
Odemba went on to disclose the factors that contributed to her charges' 6-2 aggregate loss to Cameroon as they sought to overturn the first leg's 3-0 deficit in the rematch.
"Tactically, Cameroon was perfect, but one of the factors that contributed to our defeat was the lack of confidence displayed by the girls. It was evident in their performance on the field that they were not fully confident in themselves," she disclosed.
In the match played at Nayo National Stadium, Naomi Nd Joah Eto scored a hat-trick in the 24th, 58th, and 62nd minutes to secure the win.
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Kenya managed to salvage some pride with goals from forward Charity Midewa in the 46th and 77th minutes, respectively.
With this victory, Cameroon now advances to face the winner of the fourth and final round, pitting Congo against Egypt in the qualifiers.
If successful, the Indomitable Lionesses will secure their qualification for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, set to take place in Bogota, Colombia.
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The Rising Starlets, however, faced additional challenges, missing eight crucial players who are currently sitting for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
Among the absentees were skipper Jane Hato, Jerrine Nun Adhiambo, and striker Faith Naliaka, all dedicated to their KCSE exams. Other notable absentees included defender Kikky Masika, Purity Awino, Charity Luhavi, Molly Akinyi, and Susan Otieno.
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