‘We’ll turn the tables’ – rising Starlets coach Ademba says

The national U20 Women’s football team remains optimistic of sinking Cameroon this evening and grabbing a ticket to the last round of the 2024 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Even though many football enthusiasts might have predicted the fate of Rising Starlets before today’s fixture, coach Beldine Odemba is oozing with confidence and believes her charges will use the home advantage to overturn the 3-0 deficit they suffered last week at the Ahmadou Ahijo Stadium in Yaounde.

Odemba says the game is not yet over and Rising Starlets are going to the battlefield with their sights set on fourth-round qualification.

“Football is war and every competition is war, they have rattled us in the first leg and we must show them the real warfare in our backyard. Nobody goes to the field to lose, we are aiming to get the desired win and proceed to the next round. We still have a huge opportunity to show our full potential,” a jovial Odemba told People Sport.

Starlets will seek to mirror their seniors Harambee Starlets who trounced Cameroon at Nyayo in September to eliminate them in the Women’s African Cup of Nations Qualifiers.

Odemba has issued a rallying call to the fans to turn up in large numbers to give them the needed 12th man support at Nyayo Stadium as they promise to give them a good show once again.

“There is always something special about Starlets while playing at home. The fans have been of immense help in our campaigns thus far. I would like to encourage them not to give up, let them come out again to support us,their presence will be vital and we will do our part to ensure they return home with happiness.”

Captain Rebecca Kwoba reiterated coach Odemba’s sentiments noting that they really need the support from the spectators. Kwoba adds that they have amended their errors that saw them fall to their visitors last Saturday.

“The game is not over; we have a big chance since we have done our homework and ready to go again. We urge our fans to come and support us; they will surely boost our morale for the game today.

All the Rising Starlets players are in good health and available for selection.

Super striker Valerie Nekesa will be keen to be on the scorer’s list after failing to grab a goal in the first encounter in Yaoundé.

The form-two student at Madira Girls Secondary School netted four goals against Angola during the second round of the Qualifiers.

Moroccan Zakia El Grini will be the center referee of the 3PM and will be assisted by her compatriots Ihsane Ennouajeli and Karimi Khadiri.

The winner of the tie will face the victor between Congo and Egypt in the fourth and the final round of the Qualifiers.