CAF Reinstate E Guinea To Crush Starlets AWCON Dream

7th November 2018

Kenya drew 1-1 in a build-up friendly match against Ghana at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday

Harambee Starlets players pose for a team photo prior to their friendly match against the National U15 boys team at the Utalii Sports Grounds. PHOTO/Courtesy/FKF
Harambee Starlets players pose for a team photo prior to their friendly match against the National U15 boys team at the Utalii Sports Grounds. PHOTO/Courtesy/FKF
SUMMARY
  • Harambee Starlets participation in the 2018 CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) is uncertain after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reinstated Equatorial Guinea back to the tournament on Wednesday
  • Starlets were restored to the competition last month after Football Kenya Federation (FKF) petitioned CAF seeking Equatorial Guinea’s disqualification from the continental showpiece for fielding ineligible players in the qualifiers

  • They were scheduled to play Mali, that were expected in Nairobi on Thursday, in two friendlies slated for  Friday and Sunday at Utalii College and Kasarani in that order ahead of their planned departure for Ghana on November 14.




NAIROBI, Kenya- Harambee Starlets participation in the 2018 CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) is uncertain after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reinstated Equatorial Guinea back to the tournament on Wednesday.

A brief statement posted on the continental governing body's website all but snuffed out the dreams of the team that was preparing to depart for Ghana next week having played the 2018 AWCON hosts earlier in the day in a 1-1 draw at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

“Regarding the eligibility protest against player Annette Jacky Messomo during the match no. 30 Equatorial Guinea versus Kenya played in the frame of the Total African Women’s Cup of Nations 2018, the Appeal Board decided as follows:

“The appeal lodged by the Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol is admissible.The decision no 001-CAI-08.09.2018 is overruled.The player Annette Jacky Messomo is eligible to play for the National Team of Equatorial Guinea.The National Team of Equatorial Guinea is reintegrated in the Total African Women's Cup of Nations 2018,” the statement read.

Starlets were restored to the competition last month after Football Kenya Federation (FKF) petitioned CAF seeking Equatorial Guinea’s disqualification from the continental showpiece for fielding ineligible players in the qualifiers.

Starlets had lost 3-2 on aggregate to the West Africa Nation in the final qualifying round, but an appeal would be lodged by FKF questioning the eligibility of six players who took part in the qualifier.

World Cup

On November 7, 2018, the Appeal Board of Confédération Africaine de Football held a meeting in order to decide on the appeal of the Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol of the decision of the Disciplinary Council of September 8, 2018.

Starlets have been stepping up training for the tournament for  two weeks now including the friendly match against visiting Ghana’s Black Queens at Kasarani.

They were scheduled to play Mali, that were expected in Nairobi on Thursday, in two friendlies slated for  Friday and Sunday at Utalii College and Kasarani in that order ahead of their planned departure for Ghana on November 14.

The AWCON will run in Ghana from November 17 to December 1 where the top three teams will qualify to represent the continent at World Cup in France.