Kenya’s Rising Starlets delivered a commanding performance, overwhelming Angola 6-1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Valerie Nekesa secured a hattrick, complemented by a brace from Charity Midewo, under the guidance of coach Beldine Odemba.
This resounding victory places them on the brink of the third round in the qualification journey for the 2023 U20 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The match began perfectly for Starlets as Nekesa opened the scoring just four minutes into the game, capitalizing on a through ball and slotting it past the keeper. She repeated the feat three minutes later, once again displaying her pace and clinical finishing.
Odemba’s squad dominated the game, showcasing excellent ball movement while Angola struggled to find their rhythm. In the 10th minute, Nekesa was denied a quick hattrick by the keeper, who made a crucial point-blank save.
Angola attempted to regroup by making an early substitution, but it was Kenya who extended their lead. Nekesa secured her hattrick with a similar goal, this time courtesy of Midewa’s precise through pass.
Angola managed to pull one back with a brilliant strike from Ivone Julio, offering a glimmer of hope. Nevertheless, Kenya remained in control and continued to create scoring opportunities.
Just before halftime, the Kenyan squad notched their fourth goal, with Midewo firing an impressive freekick from long range.
In the second half, Kenya maintained their dominance and focused on ball possession. They extended their lead to 5-1 as Midewo completed her brace with a close-range header from a freekick in the 60th minute.
Two substitutes combined for the sixth goal, as Faith Naliaka scored on the rebound after her initial shot was blocked.
The Kenyan girls maintained their firm grip on the game, preventing any significant attempts on target by the visitors.
They now head to Luanda for the return leg, needing only to avoid defeat or limit their loss to less than four goals to advance to the next qualification round. The potential opponent awaits, with the duel between Cameroon and Botswana determining their fate.
