Home girls Vihiga United’s campaign at the CECAFA regional qualifiers for the inaugural edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League started off poorly after they suffered a 4-2 loss to Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank in Nairobi on Sunday evening.

Medina Busser was the star of the Ethiopian side, hitting a hat-trick as they set off in search of the single ticket in sizzling fashion.

Busser opened the scoring for CBE in the eighth minute with a sumptuous finish into the bottom right after running into a defense splitting pass from national team star Loza Abera.

The Kenyan girls restored parity three minutes later when Maurine Achieng’s brilliant left footed volley from inside the box was adjudged to have crossed the line.

But, the Ethiopians got back into the lead in the 21st minute, Abera and Busser combining once again in brilliant fashion; the latter coolly sliding past the keeper.

Once again, the Kenyan girls were playing catch up and on the other end, Achieng also completed her brace with a fortunate finish following a freekick taken by Jentrix Shikangwa was punched to her feet by the Ethiopian keeper, and even without knowledge, guided the ball into the net.

Hopes of a Vihiga dominance in the second half were quashed with the Ethiopians sealing off the game, Busser completing her hat-trick in the 68th minute.

With three assists to her name, Abera capped her performance with a goal of her own, a rasping shot into the roof of the net from inside the box.

In the early kick off, South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars, in their first ever international competition, beat Zanzibar’s Generations 2-1. Makunda Joseph opened the scores for Yei with a low shot from the edge of the area after 14 minutes.

They were 2-0 up after 38 minutes, going to the break with heaps of confidence. The Zanzibari girls were off the break with confidence and Hawa Juma pulled one back, but hopes of a comeback were outgunned as Yei defended with confidence.

PHOTO/COURTESY