Kenya’s Starlets have set sights on a historic maiden appearance at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations as they face Algeria in the final eliminator this weekend.

The Harambee Starlets departed Nairobi on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s clash against the Lady Fennecs in Algiers.

Kenya drew got a bye into the final round following the withdrawal of DR Congo, putting the East Africans two matches away from a place at the final tournament in Cameroon later in the year.

Head coach David Ouma is upbeat that his side has what it takes to overturn the tables and shock Algeria who edged Ethiopia at the previous round.

“We have prepared very well for that match and we are positive we can have a good result.

It is not an easy match because Algeria has a very good team, experienced and quite tactical. For us, we will just go there and give our best and hopefully get a good result away from home,” Ouma said

Skipper Ann Aluoch has reiterated her coach’s words, but said the team will be careful against their hosts. She adds their biggest target will be getting an away goal and remains confident they can contain the North Africans.

“We expect a tough match because if they beat Ethiopia, a side that beat us 5-0 in 2014, it means they are not easy opponents. We have that urge and the push to do well, knowing that we are only two matches away from the AFCON. We want to go there and get an away goal because I know we are a strong team at home,” Aluoch remarked.

Ouma has put in a blend of youth and experience in the squad with veteran Martha Karimi recalled alongside youngsters Viviane Corazon and Mwanalima Adam, both who shone in last year’s East Africa Secondary School games in Rwanda.

The two have managed to squeeze into Ouma’s final list of 20 and 18-year old Corazon is excited at the opportunity of donning the national colours.

“It is such a privilege for me at this tender age to be called to the senior national team. It is a huge challenge playing against Algeria in the qualifiers but we are looking at the possibility of beating them and qualifying for AFCON,” Corazon said.

The team has been dealt a blow with striker Millicent Mwanzia who turns out for Ugandan top tier side Lady Cardinals being ruled out with an ankle injury. Also missing out is experienced midfielder Jacky Ogol who picked up a knee injury in training

enya has set sights on a historic maiden appearance at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations as they face Algeria in the final eliminator this weekend.

The Harambee Starlets departed Nairobi on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s clash against the Lady Fennecs in Algiers.

Kenya drew got a bye into the final round following the withdrawal of DR Congo, putting the East Africans two matches away from a place at the final tournament in Cameroon later in the year.

Head coach David Ouma is upbeat that his side has what it takes to overturn the tables and shock Algeria who edged Ethiopia at the previous round.

“We have prepared very well for that match and we are positive we can have a good result. It is not an easy match because Algeria has a very good team, experienced and quite tactical. For us, we will just go there and give our best and hopefully get a good result away from home,” Ouma told CAFOnline.com.

Skipper Ann Aluoch has reiterated her coach’s words, but said the team will be careful against their hosts. She adds their biggest target will be getting an away goal and remains confident they can contain the North Africans.

“We expect a tough match because if they beat Ethiopia, a side that beat us 5-0 in 2014, it means they are not easy opponents. We have that urge and the push to do well, knowing that we are only two matches away from the AFCON. We want to go there and get an away goal because I know we are a strong team at home,” Aluoch remarked.

Ouma has put in a blend of youth and experience in the squad with veteran Martha Karimi recalled alongside youngsters Viviane Corazon and Mwanalima Adam, both who shone in last year’s East Africa Secondary School games in Rwanda.

The two have managed to squeeze into Ouma’s final list of 20 and 18-year old Corazon is excited at the opportunity of donning the national colours.

“It is such a privilege for me at this tender age to be called to the senior national team. It is a huge challenge playing against Algeria in the qualifiers but we are looking at the possibility of beating them and qualifying for AFCON,” Corazon said.

The team has been dealt a blow with striker Millicent Mwanzia who turns out for Ugandan top tier side Lady Cardinals being ruled out with an ankle injury. Also missing out is experienced midfielder Jacky Ogol who picked up a knee injury in training. While Ogol might be out for long, Mwanzia might feature in the return leg, according to coach Ouma.

The return leg will take place on Tuesday, 12 April 2016 in Nairobi, with the winner qualifying for the final tournament fixed for 19 November – 3 December in the Cameroonian cities of Yaounde and Limbe.

Fixtures

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Mali vs Equatorial Guinea

Zimbabwe vs Zambia

Tunisia vs Ghana

Thursday, 7 April 2016

Egypt vs Cote d’Ivoire

Friday, 8 April 2016

Algeria vs Kenya

Senegal vs Nigeria

Saturday, 9 April 2016

Botswana vs South Africa

SECOND LEG

Sunday, 10 April 2016

Equatorial Guinea vs Mali

Zambia vs Zimbabwe

Monday, 11 April 2016

Cote d’Ivoire vs Egypt

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

Kenya vs Algeria

Nigeria vs Senegal

Ghana vs Tunisia

South Africa vs Botswana

. While Ogol might be out for long, Mwanzia might feature in the return leg, according to coach Ouma.

The return leg will take place on Tuesday, 12 April 2016 in Nairobi, with the winner qualifying for the final tournament fixed for 19 November – 3 December in the Cameroonian cities of Yaounde and Limbe.

Fixtures

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Mali vs Equatorial Guinea

Zimbabwe vs Zambia

Tunisia vs Ghana

Thursday, 7 April 2016

Egypt vs Cote d’Ivoire

Friday, 8 April 2016

Algeria vs Kenya

Senegal vs Nigeria

Saturday, 9 April 2016

Botswana vs South Africa

SECOND LEG

Sunday, 10 April 2016

Equatorial Guinea vs Mali

Zambia vs Zimbabwe

Monday, 11 April 2016

Cote d’Ivoire vs Egypt

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

Kenya vs Algeria

Nigeria vs Senegal

Ghana vs Tunisia

South Africa vs Botswana

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com