Harambee Starlets will look to finish the job emphatically when they face Seychelles in the return leg of their second-round 2028 Olympic Games qualifier at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Monday.Kick-off is scheduled for 3 pm, with Kenya entering the encounter with a commanding advantage after thrashing Seychelles 11-0 in the first leg at the same venue last Thursday.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsThe result left Starlets firmly in control of the tie, and they will be keen to maintain their attacking momentum and secure progression to the next round of the African qualifiers.Seychelles, meanwhile, face another difficult assignment against a Kenyan side that proved too strong in the opening encounter.##NAJAVA_MECA_10017427##The island nation is hosting the tie in Kenya because it lacks a FIFA-accredited stadium suitable for the fixture.Oduor promises changesDespite the commanding first-leg victory, Harambee Starlets head coach Godfrey Oduor is expected to make several changes to his starting line-up, with captain Mwanahalima Adams, Jentrix Shikangwa, Corazon Aquino and Lilian Awuor among the players expected to feature.Nairobi United name new captain ahead of season openerOduor was pleased with the performance of the players of the second-string side in the first leg.“We have seen how the first group plays, and now we will field the second batch, then sit down and analyse them objectively. We will maintain the same training rhythm to keep the team going,” Oduor said.The coach also praised the players who seized their opportunity in the first leg, expressing confidence that the team would continue delivering positive results.“Our players who got the chance to represent us did well, and we are very grateful for the work they have done. It's a good feeling, and I think we will continue with such play so that we can enjoy the results our girls will be able to give us and continue to raise the nation's flag high,” he said.No room for complacencyTACTICAL ANALYSIS: Understanding Tyron Kariuki, one of Kenya's most gifted youngstersAlthough Kenya's 11-goal advantage puts them in a strong position, Oduor has insisted that his team will not take its foot off the attacking pedal.“We do not intend to relax a bit, nor do we underestimate our opponent. We will create more chances in attack and aim to score more goals. We will work on our mistakes to get more desired results,” Oduor said.Seychelles head coach Chris Yip-Au, meanwhile, attributed his team's heavy first-leg defeat partly to fitness challenges, differences in weather conditions and the playing surface.“We started the first half well. The second half was more about fitness and the weather. A lot of players were going down with cramps. In Seychelles, the temperature is around 30 degrees, while Nairobi is a bit colder, and that difference contributed to the cramps.The playing surface was also natural grass, which was a little heavy for us,” Yip-Au said.Migori Youth defender returns after one year out following career-threatening heart conditionShould Kenya eliminate Seychelles, they will advance to the subsequent rounds of the African qualifiers, where the remaining contenders will battle for two places at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
55