Starlets AWCON qualification campaign in limbo

The national women’s football team Harambee Starlets have intensified their preparations at Kasarani despite the dilemma surrounding their 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) against Uganda.

Kenya is expected to face neighbours and rivals Crested Cranes on Sunday during the first leg of the final round of the AWCON qualification campaign in a bid to book the final slot ahead of the tournament finals set to be held in Morocco.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced two weeks ago that Harambee Starlets had pulled out of the competition following communication from the disbanded Football Kenya Federation (FKF) who wrote to CAF indicating they were not in a position to organise the qualification matches against Uganda.

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— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) January 28, 2022

A week ago,Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed was optimistic that the match will proceed amid the ongoing controversy.

“We have a conversation that is ongoing. We are hoping that soon rather than later the confirmation will be made. The girls are being prepared and they will continue with their training,

“The expectation from all of us is that the team will be on the flight to Uganda as we welcome them for the return leg. We hope the girls will do well and get more opportunities at both continental and global level,” she said.

Reports indicate that Uganda have already dissolved their camp and are waiting for pre-tournament training in Europe with CAF having updated them as the qualified team for August extravaganza.

The first leg was scheduled for February 13 in Kampala and the second leg on February 17 in Nairobi.

Starlets have been in camp for two weeks now at the Moi International Sports Centre,Kasarani Stadium under the tutelage of head coach Alex Alumira.  

Harambee Starlets progressed to the second round after hammering South Sudan 15-1 on aggregate while Uganda eliminated Ethiopia at the first round of the 2022 Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.

This will be the second time Uganda Women’s team features in the tournament, and it comes more than two decades after their first appearance in the year 2000.

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