Harambee starlets 2-0 Ethiopia: Starlets get Cecafa campaign off to winning start as champions Tanzania maul South Sudan

FILE: Harambee Starlets celebrate their victory during Olympic Qualifiers match against Black Queens of Ghana at Kasarani on Tuesday Oct 8, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

National women’s football team Harambee Starlets opened their Cecafa championship with a 2-0 victory Ethiopia in Sunday’s Group B match at Chamazi Stadium, in Dar es Salaam.

Wiyeta Girls forward Gentrix Shikangwa came off the bench to break the deadlock in the 79th minute before Cynthia Shilwatso doubled the lead three minutes later.

It was a great bounce for David Ouma’s girls after being eliminated from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games qualifying tournament by Zambia’s Shepolopolo (3-2 on aggregate).

The Starlets, who lost 2-1 to Tanzania’s Twiga Stars in the final of the last edition of the tournament held in 2016 in Jinja, Uganda, will be hoping to continue with their winning run in the regional tournament tackle Djibouti at 2pm tomorrow.

They will then wrap up their preliminary round with a tie against Uganda’s Crested Cranes on Thursday. Uganda were due to clash with Djibouti in their opening Group B last evening.

Tanzania began their title defence on a high note, demolishing depleted-newcomers South Sudan 9-0 in Saturday’s opening Group B encounter as their neighbours Zanzibar thrashed Burundi 5-0.

Omary Mwanahamisi scored a hat-trick to propel Twiga Stars to an emphatic win with Abdallah Stumai and Clement Opa netting a brace each.

“We are happy with the good start. But our target remains to retain the trophy,” said Mwanamisi.

Group A action continues today with South Sudan taking on Zanzibar in an early 2pm encounter before paving way for a 4.30pm fixture between Tanzania and Burundi. [Rodgers Eshitemi]