Chances of Harambee Starlets playing in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations now hang in the balance after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) accepted the withdrawal of Kenya from the final qualifier round.
In a statement released by the continent's football governing body, CAF has confirmed that Uganda has advanced to the next stage of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON).
The announcement came following the withdrawal by Kenya courtesy of a letter sent to CAF by FKF Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno.
“In a correspondence to CAF, the Football Kenya Federation announced their withdrawal from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Morocco 2022.
“The double header between Kenya and Uganda initially scheduled for February 2022 as part of the last qualifying round of the tournament is therefore cancelled,” the statement read.
FKF CEO further said in the letter, “Uganda becomes the first team to join hosts Morocco for the final phase of the tournament to be played from July 2 to July 23, 2022."
Harambee Starlets who are already at their training camp in preparation for the tournament are uncertain on whether they will participate in the tourney.
However the Cabinet Secretary(CS) for Sports Ambassador Amina Mohammed assured the stakeholders that the government would hold discussions with CAF to have the decision rescinded.
The Sports CS termed the letter sent to CAF as fraudulent stating that the FKF had no mandate to communicate with CAF as the management of football in the country.
Currently the football affairs in the country are being run by a Caretaker Committee headed by Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera.