Harambee Starlets made history on Tuesday when they qualified for their first ever Africa Women’s Championships after holding Algeria to a 1-1 draw in the return leg of their second round clash in Nairobi.
The result saw the Starlets go through on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate and make the continental showpiece event set for Cameroon in November.
It will be the first appearance by any Kenyan team at the Afcon finals since the men’s side competed in the Tunisia 2004 edition.
Substitute Cheris Avilia Salono was the heroine as her second-half goal pulled Starlets level after the visitors had taken a first-half lead through Bouheni Naima.
With most of the hard work done last Friday when the Kenyans held Algeria to a 2-2 draw in Algiers, the hosts went into the game aware that a 0-0 or 1-1 draw or a win of any kind would see them through to the finals.
Coach David Ouma had made two changes from the side that played in Algiers with Ann Aluoch and Esse Akida introduced to the starting eleven.
The home side started well with Mwanahalima Adam and Okida almost fashioning a chance after four minutes.
Mwanahalima thought she had given Kenya the lead after 14 minutes but her effort was chalked off for offside.
Then out of nowhere, the Algerians took the lead when Naima converted from close range after Starlets keeper Samantha Akinyi had parried Fatima Bara’s free kick onto her path.
Stung by the goal, Starlets poured forward in search of an equaliser pinning their opponents in their own half for the rest of the opening period.
Ouma made a quick change seven minutes into the second half introducing Salono for Ann Alouch, before introducing Vivian Aquino Odhiambo for Caroline Anyango Omondi.
The equaliser arrived 15 minutes from time as Nafula’s well-crafted free kick found Salono at the edge of the box and she made no mistake with a sweetly struck effort.
Faced with elimination, the Algerians pushed hard for the winner, forcing two corners in added time but Kenya held on to the end.
Source: SuperSports
