Kenya national women's handball team, Good Luck Girls on Tuesday June 8, kicked off their victory campaign in the 2021 African Women's Handball Championship on a bad note after losing to tournament hosts Cameroon 40-16.
The Good Luck Girls were not lucky enough in their opening fixture as hosts Cameroon overran them to emerge comfortable winners in a one-sided encounter staged at Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex.
Cameroon started strongly scoring four quick balls before Kenya who are featuring in the continental showpiece for the first time.The Kenyans responded gallantly by scoring three balls but Cameroon kept pushing hard and their troubles saw them score two more balls to lead 6-3 at the first time out.
On resumption, flawless Cameroon kept their attacking guns blazing, showcasing a formidable and complete team, clinical and always dangerous going forward and their devastating attacking and solid defence saw them score fifteen more balls with Kenya scoring only 5 to go into the breather 21-8 in what seemed to be a one sided first half.
After the break, fleek Cameroon continued from where they left as Kenyan girls struggled to penetrate past the solid Cameroonian defence.
With the visitors finding it difficult to score, flying Cameroonian's ball poachers continued wrecking the Kenyan defence, scoring 13 unanswered balls to stretch their lead to 34-14.
Kenya scored one later but domineering Cameroon kept punishing Kenya, scoring six more balls against Kenya who managed a single ball score in the latter stages, allowing Cameroon to comfortably win the opening match 40-16 after the final whistle.
Kenya's next match is on Thursday June 10 against DR Congo. DRC who were the championship 2014 first runner's up are expected to give newcomers Kenya another uphill task to do. In the opening match of the championship, DR Congo announced their presence in this year's edition by thrashing Nigeria 35-16.
The 2021 tournament, which is the 24th edition of the African Women's Handball Championship, will act as the African qualifying tournament for the 2021 World Women's Handball Championship
Kenya is in Group B, alongside hosts Cameroon, DR Congo, and Nigeria. After the Congo match on Thursday June 10,Kenya will.be looking forward to seal a spot in the knockout stages of the showpiece by beating Nigeria on Saturday June 12.