When Coach Beldine Odemba named the team to duty for the 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s edition, few names stood out.

In yet another occasion, Odemba’s squad was put under scrutiny, after potent attackers were left out by the national team tactician. The omission of Jentrix Shikangwa, coming off a prolific season with Simba Queens, and the axing of another Simba duo of Corazone Aquino and Elizabeth Wambui raised more eyebrows.

In their place, Odemba entrusted the offensive task to a fresh attack of local girls with little experience on the national stage.

Vihiga United’s attacker Martha Amunyolet, Kibera Soccer’s Faith Mboya, Swaumu Masungo, and Tumaini Waliaula joined Violet Nanjala in a new attacking line for the games.

Central to the rich vein of goal-scoring form has been Martha Amunyolet, a budding striker proving to be the recent testament to Kenya’s acclaim as a conveyor belt of potent attackers.

Taking her call-up with both hands, the prolific now ranks among the standout players in the tournament.

She kicked off on a dream form, scoring a brace in Kenya’s opener against Burundi.

Player of the match

With the performance earning her the Woman of the Match accolade, Amunyolet never looked back.

She carried her scoring boots to Kenya’s 4-0 thrashing of rivals Uganda on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, helping the team’s cause with a beautifully taken goal, an expertly taken header in the dying minutes to stretch her scoring streak.

The goal lifted her goal haul to three goals in two games.

On Thursday, June 20, 2025, Amunyolet secured her second Women’s Player of the Match accolade with her fourth goal in the tie.

The haul placed her as second overall behind Tanzania’s Opa Clement, who leads the chart with five.

Additionally, the striker has also proven a creative outlet, creating a couple of goals for Kenya and ranking.

Speaking ahead of Kenya’s group clash against Tanzania on Saturday, the attacker laid down her intention of taking home the golden boot.

Golden boot ambitions

“I came here hopeful of scoring goals and managed to do that against Burundi and Uganda. I am targeting to extend the run in the game against Tanzania too. I won’t let people down, as I am targeting to finish as the top scorer of the tournament,” she stated.

Kenya’s next test against Tanzania will offer the real test yet for its quest for the championship.

The two sides have proven to be the early favourites of the championship following their respective unbeaten runs in the games.

The round-robin format means that Saturday’s match could decide the championship.

The last time the two met in a CECAFA final was in 2019, when Kenya beat Tanzania 2-0 to lift the trophy. Another high-stakes encounter awaits as both teams battle for regional supremacy.