Barely weeks after joining Greek side PAOK FC, Harambee Starlets forward Esse Akida made her presence fully felt when she scored a hatrick against Moldovan side Anenii Noi in the Women's Champions League. PAOK completely demolished Anenii Noi, setting the final score at 6-0. Akida came in as a substitute in the second half for Antigoni Papadopoulou and scored the team's fourth goal in the 51st minute. PAOK raced to a 3-0 lead at the break thanks to goals from Papadopoulou herself, Baxevanou, and Mitkou. Akida added a second and PAOK’s fifth in the 88th minute and completed her hattrick in the dying minutes of the game.
Akida now becomes the first Kenyan woman to bag a hat-trick in the UEFA Women’s Champions League after making her debut in the competition for Besiktas back in 2020. The 28 year old had a tough season in 2020 in Europe when she signed for Turkey giants Besiktas back in February. She was unable to prove her quality in Turkey as the corona virus affected her career in Turkey.
In mid year of 2020 Akida's contract with Turkey giants was terminated due to the suspension of sport as a result of the pandemic . Akida was forced to come back home and she joined Vihiga United where she helped the team lift the Kenya Women's Premier League title. The Kenyan will now be hoping for more of the same outing when they take on Norwegian side Valerenga in the next round on 21st August.