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Kenya and Tanzania vie for Cecafa Senior Women's supremacy

Harambee Starlets

From left: Harambee Starlets players Violet Nanjala, Faith Mboya and Tumaini Waliaula celebrate a goal against South Sudan in their Cecafa Senior Women's Championship match at Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam on June 19, 2025.  

Photo credit: Courtesy of FKF
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By  Toto Arege

Correspondent

NMG Sport

What you need to know:

  • Between them, they have scored 23 goals, with Kenya putting 11 past their opponents and Tanzania going one better.
  • They have also not conceded a single goal between them, making them, by right, the two best teams in the tournament.

From the day the 2025 Cecafa Senior Women's Championship started nine days ago, this fixture was considered the potential title-decider, and so it has been as hosts Tanzania take on Kenya at Azam Sports Complex Chamazi, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, starting at 6pm.

The two nations were considered pre-tournament favourites and the manner they deposed their opponents emphatically confirmed their status.

Between them, they have scored 23 goals, with Kenya putting 11 past their opponents and Tanzania going one better.

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They have also not conceded a single goal between them, making them, by right, the two best teams in the tournament that has featured five nations playing in a round robin format.

So who will be the undisputed best team of the tournament?

Optimistic of victory

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba was optimistic that Kenya will lift the cup.

“We are aiming to rewrite history and repeat our 2019 performance. We're preparing the team and approaching the match with focus, hoping for the best possible outcome," said Odemba.

Kenya will certainly not be shy of scoring. Vihiga Queens deadly forward Martha Amunyolet leads Kenya’s scoring list in Dar with four goals, while Violet Nanjala and Faith Mboya have helped themselves to two goals each.

Starlets will also fancy themselves at the back after going three matches without letting a goal in.

Romanian-based Lillian Awuor has been a rock between the sticks with a probable back three of Enez Mango, Dorcas Shikobe, Ruth Ighosi offering solid cover.

Lavender Akinyi will pull the strings in midfield assisted by Vivian Nasaka, Fasila Adhiambo and the free scoring Amunyolet.

Tournament’s top scorer

Kenya, the 2019 champions and Tanzania winners in 2016 and 2018 will be meeting for the fourth time in history.  Kenya hold the better record with two wins and one match ending in a draw.

Interestingly, the two nations have met in two Cecafa Senior Women Championship finals.

In 2016, Starlets lost 2-1 to Tanzania in Kampala, Uganda. Three years later Kenya defeated Tanzania 2-0 in Dar. Harambee Starlets will have to be wary of Tanzania though.

The hosts have the tournament’s top scorer in the frame of Simba Queens striker Opa Clement who has plundered five goals in three matches. The two teams are tied on nine points with Tanzania holding a slight advantage on goal difference.

Outgoing champions Uganda and Burundi have three points each, while Sudan sit fifth with zero points. Burundi will play South Sudan in the first match of the day today from 2pm at the same venue.