Kenya women’s amputee football team storms WC last eight

The Kenya women’s amputee football team has qualified for the quarterfinals of the inaugural 2024 Women's Amputee Football World Cup.

The historic tournament, which marks the first time women’s amputee teams compete separately, kicked off on Monday, November 4, at the Romelio Martínez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Kenya began their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Haiti but bounced back impressively in their second match, defeating Peru 2-0.

Winnie Nafula opened the scoring in the 11th minute, and Esther Syombua added a second in the 34th minute to secure the victory.

Head coach Clement Otieno expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress.

“We are thrilled to have reached the quarterfinals. We left Kenya last Friday and arrived in Colombia early on Sunday morning. Our next match against England will determine the winner of Group B.”

The match against England will be crucial in deciding the top team in their group, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting knockout phase.

Meanwhile, the tournament has seen some setbacks, with Nigeria, drawn in Group C with Ecuador, the USA, and Ukraine, unable to participate due to visa denials by the Colombian Embassy. Cameroon also missed the competition, leaving Group A with only Brazil, Colombia, and Poland.

Kenya remains the sole African representative in the tournament, with the field reduced to nine teams as a result.

The 2024 Women’s Amputee Football World Cup, which runs from November 4 to 10, features seven-a-side matches, with each half lasting 25 minutes, showcasing top women’s amputee football talent from around the world.