Harambee Starlets suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Tanzania’s Twiga Stars in the CECAFA Women’s Championship final on Saturday at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Despite showing determination and fighting spirit throughout the match, the Starlets were dealt a devastating blow early in the second half.
In the 48th minute, a long-range strike by Tanzania’s Clara Luvanga led to an unfortunate own goal by Kenyan defender Enez Mango, giving the hosts the lead—and ultimately, the championship.
Kenya fought hard to find an equalizer, pushing forward with intensity, but Tanzania’s solid defense held firm.
The Twiga Stars maintained their composure and controlled much of the possession, and the final whistle confirmed their narrow 1-0 victory.
The result was a bitter disappointment for the Starlets, who had put on an impressive run to reach the final.
Kenya dominated the group stage, notching convincing wins over Burundi (3-0), Uganda (4-0), and South Sudan (4-0).
Tanzania, however, proved to be equally formidable, cruising through the group stage with a 6-0 victory over Burundi and a 4-0 win against South Sudan, setting up a much-anticipated clash in the final.
The match began cautiously, with both sides struggling to create clear chances in a tightly contested first half that ended goalless. But the momentum shifted dramatically after the own goal early in the second half, and Kenya couldn’t recover.
This defeat was especially painful for the Harambee Starlets, who were hoping to reclaim the title they last won in 2019 and match Tanzania’s tally of three CECAFA championships.
