Harambee Starlets Crush South Sudan to Set Up CECAFA Decider with Tanzania

(Dar es Salaam) – Kenya’s Harambee Starlets continued their perfect run at the 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship with a 4-0 win over South Sudan on Thursday evening, placing them level on points with hosts Tanzania ahead of a decisive top-of-the-table clash.

The match, held at the Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam, saw the Kenyan side maintain control from the first whistle. Faith Mboya opened the scoring just three minutes after kick-off, capitalizing on a defensive mistake with a powerful finish. Despite creating more chances, Kenya was unable to extend the lead in the first half and went into the break leading 1-0.

Kenya returned stronger in the second half. Just two minutes after the restart, forward Violet Nanjala, who plays abroad, doubled the lead with a clinical strike from outside the penalty area. Her goal marked a turning point, giving Kenya the cushion they needed to press forward confidently.

In the 66th minute, Martha Amunyolet added a third goal following a well-worked short corner, scoring her fourth of the tournament. She is now second on the top scorer list, trailing Tanzania’s Opah Clement by one goal.

Kenya sealed the win in added time when Elizabeth Ochaka headed in the fourth goal from a corner delivered by Amunyolet. With that, the Starlets secured their third consecutive victory in the round-robin tournament.

The 4-0 result brings Kenya’s goal tally to 11 in three games without conceding. They now sit at the top of the group with nine points and a goal difference of +11. Tanzania, also unbeaten, trails narrowly with six points and a +10 goal difference but still has one match in hand against Uganda.

If Tanzania defeats Uganda by at least two goals without conceding, they would overtake Kenya on goal difference. Otherwise, Saturday’s fixture between Kenya and Tanzania will be a winner-takes-all match to decide who lifts the 2025 CECAFA title.

The round-robin format of the tournament means goal margins remain a critical factor. Both Kenya and Tanzania have dominated their opponents, but the final match will determine not just pride but the regional crown.

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba and her assistant Godfrey Oduor have praised the players for their discipline and growing confidence, pointing out that consistency in front of goal and defensive organization have been key to Kenya’s success so far.

The team, which has not conceded a single goal in the tournament, will now focus on preparation for the match against Tanzania, which promises to be a tightly contested finale.