Kenya lift 2019 Cecafa Senior Women’s Challenge Cup

The Kenya Starlets are the new Cecafa Senior Women’s Challenge Cup winners. Coach David Ouma’s team put up a spirited battle to defeat 2016 and 2018 champions Tanzania 2-0 in the final played at the Chamazi Stadium on Monday.

After a goalless first half where Kenya kept the Tanzanian side at bay with some clever defending, they returned more determined to score goals, and it paid off.

Employing a very tight system of defending and dominating in the midfield Kenya got a penalty after 70 minutes when a Tanzanian defender handled the ball in the box.

Substitute Jentrix Shikangwa who has replaced injured Janet Bundi in the second half gave the Tanzanian goalkeeper Najat Abass Idrisa not chance when she converted the penalty. Shikangwa got her name on the score sheet again after 88 minutes with a hard shot from outside the box.

Tanzania’s Omary Shurua Mwanahamisi and Donisia Daniel Minja had earlier tried to break through the Kenyan defense, but failed no space to get the goals.

After the final whistle the disappointed Tanzanian fans walked out of the Stadium as the Kenyan team celebrated their win. It is the first time Kenya win the title after Tanzania won it in 2016 and 2018.

“This is a sweet win for us because we lost to Tanzania in the final in 2016. It is also good to win this trophy because we recently failed to qualify for the next stage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers,” said Kenya’s captain Dorcus Nixon.

David Ouma, the Kenya coach praised his team for the discipline. “The team played as a unit and won the trophy without conceding a goal,” added a happy Ouma.

The Tanzanian coach Shime Bakari admitted they had lost to a solid Kenyan team. “A final is a final and Kenya took their chances. This is a new team and the exposure is also good for them,” added Bakari.

In the earlier play-off match Uganda Crested Cranes beat Burundi 2-0 to win bronze. Substitutes Shamira Nalujja and Amina Nababi netted the goals.

The tournament that attracted eight teams was sponsored by FIFA.