Harambee Starlets with mountain to climb after late penalty miss in Botswana draw

The women's national football team, Harambee Starlets, will have everything to play for in order to qualify for the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament after being held to a painful 1-1 draw by Botswana in the first leg of their final qualification match staged at Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Beldin Odemba coached side were out to get a positive result in the first of the two-leeged do or die tie, but the visitors proved stubborn as they got an important away goal to take back home courtesy of Keitumetse Duthebe's strike that was cancelled by Marjolen Nekesa.

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Starlets, however, had an incredible chance of picking up a win right at the death but Violet Nanjala missed a late penalty that saw the game ending in heartbreak for the Kenyan cast. 

"Players missed some instructions. Sometimes it is dictated by the game and how the opponent plays because you plan against them and capitalize on their weaknesses. They came for a draw and got it," Starlets head coach said.

Seeking to make advantage of their home support, Starlets started on the front foot as they attacked right from the kick off whistle. 

They signalled their intent early on with Cynthia Shilawatso getting the first attempt of the match in the fifth minute but Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies ace Refilwe Tebogo ensured that Botswana did not just come to sit and watch as she also got an attempt for her side inside the opening ten minutes. 

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It is Kenya who however continued probing with Lorna Nyabuto coming close with her low effort just missing the target by a whisker after reacting quickest to a ball punched in her direction by Botswana keeper Tlamelo Pheresi. 

Having managed to quieten the hosts, the visitors should have taken the lead in the 24th minute when Refilwe got through on goal but her low shot veered agonizingly off the target having had the beating of Annedy Kundu in the Kenyan goal. 

Thirteen minutes later, Duthebe however ensured that there was no reason to cry over spoilt milk as her shot slipped through Kundu's hands and into the back of the net to give the visitors a crucial away goal and lead in the match. 

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Finding themselves on the backfoot, Kenya pushed bodies foward in search of an equalizer at least before the half time break. 

Shilawatso should have done better in the first minute of stopppage time after Elizabeth Wambui did all the hard work down the right before swinging in an inch-perfect cross but the former Vihiga Queens foward flashed her header off target in a clear cut chance. 

Just before the break, Kenya would get the lifeline as the centre referee pointed to the spot when Nondi Fingi was adjudged to have handled Ruth Ingosi's goal-bound strike. 

Nekesa, who is based at Czech topflight side Slavia Prague, steppef up in the pressure moment and squeezed the ball into the bottom corner to restore parity at the interval. 

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The second half saw Kenya trying to push for a winner in the match but the Botswana players stayed resolute up unitl the last minute when Joy Oriyo's crosses was handled in the area, giving Kenya a last-minute chance to pick a victory.

That was however not to be as Nanjala saw her effort well saved by Pheresi much to the despair of the Kenyan players, fans and the technical bench.

The second leg will take place in Botswana on Tuesday 5 December with Kenya needing a high scoring draw to proceed or a straight win.

Starting XI

Kenya: Annedy KundiKundi (GK), Vivian Nasala, Enez Mango, Ruth Ingosi, Phoebe Owiti, Corazone Aquino, Elizabeth Wambui (Janet Moraa 45'), Lorna Nyabuto (Sheril Angachi 45'), Cynthia Shilawatso, Marjolene Nekesa, Mwanahalima Adam (Joy Oriyo 82')