Kenyan women's football team set sights on Uganda in quest for Africa Cup ticket

NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan women's national football team, the Harambee Starlets will now focus on their main match against Uganda on April 8 after finishing their international friendly matches.

The Kenyan team, which returned home on Tuesday morning from Lusaka, Zambia, are in high spirits after they crushed their hosts 3-0 on Sunday.

"You must appreciate the high standard of football in Zambia. They pushed us to the limit though the results don't reflect it. They have developed and made strides in women's football so this match was quite significant to us," said head coach Richard Kanyi.

"But I must thank my defence and whole team for playing as a unit. Their conviction is back and we want to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations again," Kanyi added.

Coach Kanyi used the Zambia tie to gauge some of the new blood he has drafted into the team, including Wincate Kaari and Vivian Nasaka who came in for striker Esse Akida and goalkeeper Vivian Akinyi, who are injured.

The Starlets will take a short rest and resume training on April 3 in Machakos.

Seven out of the 24 participating teams are expected to join hosts Ghana for the 13th edition of the continental showpiece scheduled for Nov. 17-Dec 1.

The women's football event will produce the African representatives for the FIFA Women's World Cup with the top three teams qualifying for France 2019. Enditem