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Harambee Starlets coach David Ouma feels the team needs at least two weeks of preparation before facing their next hurdle. 

The home girls, who got a bye in the first round, knocked out Malawi’s She-Flames in the second round after a 5-3 aggregate win and with a relatively young squad, the tactician believes the players need enough time to be prepared tactically and mentally.

“We will need two weeks or more to prepare. 

The first week, we concentrate on the tactical preparation of the squad with the second week dedicated to mental preparation and game management,” said Ouma.

Starlets were likely to face Ghana, who took on Gabon in the third round of the 2020 Olympics qualifiers yesterday evening being the return match after the West Africans secured three away goals in the first leg. 

Starlets last faced Ghana in November last year in a build-up match for the Africa Women’s Cup Of Nations (AWCON), the encounter ending in a one-all draw. 

Four players in the current squad were in the starting 11 in the friendly against the Black Queens while four others started on the bench.

Goalkeeper Annette Kundu was handed her international debut with current captain Dorcas Sikobe, Corazone Aquino and Mwanahalima Adam in the starting 11. 

Vivian Nasaka, Elizabeth Wambui, Sheryl Angachi and Ruth Ingosi started on the bench in the friendly match.

“We are giving players an equal opportunity in the team. 

Some of the players who have previously come in as back up for the regulars have transformed to impact players and we only need to push them further to realise their full potential,” added Ouma.