Kenya’s record 16-0 demolition of Sudan at the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship has been wiped from the books.
This was after the tournament organisers ruled that the abandoned match would instead count as a 3-0 walkover victory for the Junior Starlets.
In a statement released after consultations with CAF’s Competitions Department, CECAFA said the result could not stand because the match had not reached full time.
“Following the exhaustion of substitutes and that the Sudan Women’s team had on the field less than seven players as recommended by the Laws of the Game, and the regular time (90 minutes) had not been consumed, the CECAFA Organising Committee decided to declare the Kenya Women’s team the winner by three points and three goals,” read part of the statement.
CECAFA said it sought guidance from CAF because the incident was “a unique and rare case in football competitions” and because the tournament’s objective is to promote the development of women’s football.
The ruling leaves Kenya with a goal difference of +9 instead of the +22 they would have enjoyed had the original scoreline stood.
The decision deals a significant blow to Kenya’s hopes of topping Group A, stripping them of a massive +16 goal difference advantage and allowing Tanzania to finish above them on goal difference. It also erases the seven goals scored by striker Brenda Achieng during the one-sided contest.
The match, played last Saturday, was abandoned in the 60th minute, moments after Kenya scored their 16th goal. Sudan were left with only six players on the field after a series of injuries reduced their numbers below the minimum required to finish the game.
The circumstances surrounding the abandonment raised eyebrows, with several Sudanese players going down injured in quick succession as Kenya ran riot.
Tanzania consequently finish top of Group A, while the Junior Starlets must now prepare for a semifinal showdown against Uganda.
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