NAIROBI, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenya women's national football team have dropped out of the 2020 Olympic Games qualification contest after losing to Zambia, and now turn their attention to the regional CECAFA Women's Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Head coach David Ouma said he believes his squad gave everything against Zambia and simply lost to a better side. Kenya lost 3-2 on aggregate, having drawn 2-2 in Nairobi last week before losing 1-0 in Lusaka on Monday.

"We have dropped out of the race for a place in the 2020 Olympics. Our focus now shifts to the upcoming CECAFA Women's Championships to be played in Tanzania this month," said Ouma on Tuesday in Nairobi.

The winner after the reserve fixture in Yaounde will take in Zambia in the final round of the qualifying series in January next year.

Cameroon are bidding to make a return to the Olympic Games for the first time since London 2012, while Cote d'Ivoire, as well as Zambia, are eyeing a maiden appearance in Tokyo next year.

Kenya face an uphill task to restore their dominance on the regional front, with eight nations set to compete in the CECAFA event. The Harambee Starlets will come up against neighbors Uganda in Group B, as well as Ethiopia and Djibouti. Group A features hosts Tanzania, Zanzibar, Burundi, and South Sudan.

Uganda beat both Kenya and Ethiopia in last year's tournament.

CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye said Kenya are one of the strongest teams in the region.

"The Zambians have won the Africa title before, and now face either Cameroon or Cote d' Ivoire. But Kenya have proved their point in finishing among the best four countries. They will be a thorn in the side at the regional CECAFA tournament," Musonye said.

The regional tournament will take place between November 14 and 23 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city. Enditem

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