NAIROBI, Kenya, April 11- The national women Under-20 team departs for Tunisia on Wednesday evening hoping to upset hosts Carthage Eaglets as they bid to make their maiden FIFA Women Under-20 finals slated for Japan.
Florence Adhiambo named an 18 strong squad for the return leg set for the Municipal de la Gambalia Stadium as the Kenyans seek to overturn a 2-1 home loss a fortnight ago in the first leg of their clash.
Adhiambo maintained the same squad that played the Carthage Eaglets in Nairobi and will again be without prolific goal getter Jacqueline Ogall who is still out injured since Kenya played Zambia away in the previous round.
“We have had to rearrange our attack due to her absence but our game plan is to attack right from the whistle since we noticed that the Tunisians can not withstand pressure in their goal area.
“We rue the missed chances in the first leg, but we fought hard in the second half to grab a goal the girls are focused despite the few teething problems we had in camp the last few days,” the coach said.
Adhiambo added: “The Mauritanian referees decided the match here at home with their poor officiating but this time we know the match officials are from Algeria but we shall do our best.”
Despite the prospect of facing a hostile environment, the Kenyans are buoyed by the fact they have managed to find away goals in the previous rounds of the African qualifiers since they netted twice against Lesotho in Maseru and once in Zambia.
Expected to lead the Starlets attack will be Neddy Atieno, Mural Auma with playmaker Sharon Buisinei and skipper Terry Ouko and Margaret Wayua marshalling the mid field while Pauline Atieno still manning the posts.
No other Kenyan football team has been this close to a FIFA World Cup competition and the Starlets are already looking forward to a tentative meeting against the fancied Black Princesses of Ghana who must navigate through South Africa in Accra.
SQUAD
Pauline Atieno, Neddy Atieno, Jacqueline Ashitsa, Sharon Busienei, Doris Anyango, Wendy Ann Achieng, Mural Auma, Susan Wairimu, Maurice Achieng, Terry Ouko, Naomi Kwamboka, Euphresia Khakasi, Bridget Namalwa, Lilian Adera, Cynthia Khavaya, Joyce Anyango, Nelly Auma.
OFFICIALS
Florence Adhiambo Coach
Fatuma Daniels Muhusa Ass coach
Rebbeca Auma Team Manager
Rosemary Alouch Goalkeeper trainer
Angeline Mwikali Head of Delegation.
