Kenya national women’s handball team, Good Luck Girls yesterday kicked off their debut campaign in the 2021 African Women’s Handball Championship on a wrong foot after losing to heavyweights and hosts Cameroon 40-16.

The Good Luck Girls lacked luck and impetus in the match as hosts Cameroon overran them to emerge comfortable winners in a one-sided encounter staged at Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex.

Cameroon started strongly scoring four quick balls before Kenya who featuring in the championship for the first time, responding gallantly scoring three balls but Cameroon kept pushing hard and their troubles saw them score two more balls to lead 6-3 at the first time out.

On resumption, flawless Cameroon kept their attacking guns blazing, showcasing a formidable and complete team, clinical and always dangerous going forward and their devasting attacking and solid defence saw them score four more balls with Kenya scoring one to go into the second break leading 10-4.

At the final minutes of the first half, Kenya was overpowered as Cameroon scored 11 more balls with Kenya scoring only four to go into the breather, Kenya trailing 21-8.

After the break, fleek Cameroon continued from where they left as Kenyan girls struggled to penetrate past tall and strong Cameroonian defence. With Kenya finding it difficult to score, flying Cameroonian’s ball poachers continued to torment the Kenyan defence, scoring 13 unanswered balls to stretch their lead to 34-14.

Kenya scored one later but domineering Cameroon kept punishing Kenya, scoring six more balls against Kenya who managed a single ball score in the latter stages, allowing Cameroon to comfortably win the opening match 40-16 after the final whistle.

“The girls didn’t start as we expected. They start poorly but I am sure in our next match against DR Congo it will be better. I am going to talk to the coach tonight (Tuesday night) on our expectations and errors,” Charles Omondi alias Jaji, Director Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) told People Sport.

Kenya’s next match is on Thursday against strong DR Congo. DRC who are the championship 2014 first runner’s up are expected to give newcomers Kenya another mammoth task to do. In the opening match of the championship, DR Congo announced their presence in the 2021 championship by beating Nigeria 35-16.

The 2021 tournament, which is the 24th edition of the African Women’s Handball Championship, will act as the African qualifying tournament for the 2021 World Women’s Handball Championship.

Kenya is in Group B, alongside hosts Cameroon, DR Congo, and Nigeria. After the Congo match on Thursday 6 pm encounter, the Kenyan Girls will wrap up the group stage matches against Nigeria on Saturday from 6 pm.