BY REBECCA GICHANA
The national women’s football team, Harambee Starlets continued with their fine run in the ongoing COTIF Women Football Tournament in Valencia Spain with a 3-1 win against Spanish side RDC Espanyol in a Group A match on Tuesday 2 August to book a date with Real Betis in the semis.
This was a second straight win for the national side that finished first in group A with six points ahead of RDC Espanyol who picked three points from their 2-0 win over CF Benfica.
Harambee Starlets will play against Real Betis on Wednesday 3 August in the second semifinal match while Venezuela national team will play against RDC Espanyol in another semifinal. Elche CF will face CF Benfica in another match in the tournament.
Real Betis booked a semifinal slot after labouring a 1-0 win over another Spanish side Elche CF to finish second in Group B ahead of Venezuela that picked maximum points at the top of the group.
Once again sensational striker Esse Akida was influential in that match as she grabbed a brace to add her goal tally of the tournament to five with winger Neddy Atieno on target also to steer Starlets into the semifinals.
Akida who features for Women Premier League side Spedag FC is in the form of her life after scoring 13 goals from six matches for her club this season as the current top scorer.
Ouma made slight changes in the second match giving Jacky Ogol her starting berth alongside Corazone Aquino at the heart of midfield and winger Neddy Atieno but he maintained the rest of the squad that played the opening match.
Harambee Starlets is using the six-day invitational tournament as a build up for the Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) finals that is scheduled from 19 November to 4 August in Cameroon.
