Kenya’s women’s amputee football team has made history, advancing to the quarterfinals in their debut at the inaugural Women’s Amputee Football World Cup in Barranquilla, Colombia. The groundbreaking tournament, held at the Romelio Martínez Stadium, marks the first global championship dedicated solely to women’s amputee teams, running from November 4 to November 10.
Kenya’s journey began with a 0-0 draw against Haiti, followed by a dominant 2-0 victory over Peru. Winnie Nafula opened the scoring in the 11th minute, while Esther Syombua secured the win with a second goal in the 34th. Head coach Clement Otieno commended the team’s performance and voiced optimism about their upcoming match against England, which will determine the Group B leader heading into the knockout stage.
The tournament, however, has faced logistical hurdles. Nigeria and Cameroon were both unable to compete due to visa issues, reducing the field to nine teams, with Kenya as Africa’s sole representative. This competition uses a seven-a-side format, with each game comprising two 25-minute halves, highlighting the skill and resilience of amputee athletes worldwide.
“We’re thrilled to reach the quarterfinals,” said a team spokesperson. “Our match against England will decide the group winner, and we’re ready to keep pushing forward.”
