Kenya’s Harambee Starlets are out of contention for this year’s CECAFA Women’s championship after a 1-0 loss to Ethiopia- and the second in the competition being held in Rwanda. The win lifts Ethiopia to joint top of the log with Uganda at 6 points.

Having finished second in the last edition of the championship, Kenya were hot favorites to emerge top but a shock 1-0 loss on the opening day to Uganda ruined the script for David Ouma’s charges.

Next up was holders Tanzania and a 1-1 draw a fair result at the end of the day, but today’s loss means Kenya stays at the foot of the five- team log in the tournament that has since adopted a round robin format. 3-2 result for Kenya was the outcome of the two teams’ last meeting at the 2016 CECAFA Women’s championship hence Ethiopia entered the clash as underdogs.

Coach David Ouma handed youngster Martha Amunyolete a start taking up the place of Mercy Achieng who went to the bench for the first time in the tournament. Meselu Abera on the other end of the fray had other ideas, powering in a free-kick from over thirty yards at the half hour mark to send Ethiopia into the lead.

Confidence was now what Ethiopia had owing to the fact that they had given a 3-0 hiding to hosts Rwanda before the Kenya clash. They kept the lead till half time.

Achieng was quickly summoned in for Amunyolete upon resumption whereas Akida Esse paved way for Vihiga Queens forward Terry Engesha. Damage had however been done as Ethiopia jealously protected their lead and even a late Kenyan camp in the Ethiopian half could do nothing to deter the strong-willed Dinknesh from bagging all the spoils from the match.

Soka.ke