East Africa: Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Queens Bank On Trio to Beat Kenya

All eyes on Asha Rashid, Stumai Abdallah and Mwanahamisi Omari, the lethal trio tasked to lead Kilimanjaro Queens in their today's CECAFA Women title final against Kenya's Harambee Starlets in Jinja.

It is the first notable final pitting the teams that have never met before as the event is making its maiden entry into the regional level. The deadly trio contributed immensely in scoring 7 goals that helped the team to reach the final of the inaugural event.

With the deadly iron ladies hunting goals upfront Kilimanjaro Queens' defence must not allow the Kenyan scorers, especially Neddy Atieno and Caroline Anyango whose brilliance helped Kenya to post 22 goals that brought them to the last two stage.

With most of their goals harvested in their voluminous win over Zanzibar, Kenya still managed to beat comfortably other Group A members, Uganda and Rwanda before seeing off East Africa's top ranked nation, Ethiopia in their semi final match.

The Mainland's Kilimanjaro Queens set up a date with Kenya's Harambee Starlets after punishing hosts Uganda 4-1 in the second semifinal played at the Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru yesterday.

Up-and-coming midfielder Daniel Donisia silenced the home crowd giving the visitors a fourth minute lead with a well taken free-kick off the left foot after the hosts' keeper had gone into a brief slumber while organising her defence.

Winger Mwanahamisi Omari who had been a thorn to the host defence with some mazy runs doubled Tanzania's lead with a near post finish 10 minutes later which forced the home team into an earlier substitution withdrawing Yudaya Nakayenze for Christine Nambirige to help steady the midfield.

Stumai Abdalla netted the third off a spectacular left footer from 35 yards in what might be a goal of the tournament contender.

The Tanzanian girls continued from where they left in the second half, Omari again turning provider for her captain Asha Rashid who scored their fourth of the game in what proved to be a one sided affair. Harambee Starlets edged out Ethiopia 3-2 to sail through into the final.

The Kenyan girls, who have qualified for their first ever Africa Cup of Nations to be played in November made it to the final courtesy of a double strike by Neddy Atieno who netted in the 52nd and 64th minutes as Starlets recovered from a first half trail. The Ethiopians pulled a fast one on the Kenyan girls who until yesterday had not conceded a goal in their three group matches netting their opener in the 37th minute.

Caroline Onyango sealed the win for Kenya with an 71st minute third goal, but it was Losa Abera's second for Ethiopia that raised the tension and heat of the match as the Ethiopians threatened a comeback.

The Starlets however showed resilience and determination holding on to the single goal lead for the win.

Copyright © 2016 Tanzania Daily News. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 1,100 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.