Harambee Starlets pose during their WAFCON qualifier against the Gambia in Senegal
President Rut had promised the
players and technical bench Sh1 million each as a motivation, if they beat the
Queen Scorpions, and clinch the continental ticket.
Starlets led by head coach
Beldine Odemba beat the Gambian ladies 1-0 to cross the line and return to the big stage after nine years, having featured in
Yaunde, Cameroon 2016 tournament.
After a barren first half, Mwanalima
Adam headed home the only goal in the 59th
minute after a defensive mix-up , to send Kenya through 4-1 on aggregate having won 3-1 at Nyayo stadium on Friday, 24
October 2025.
The Kenyan beauties led by Captain
Dorcas Shikobe will be seeking a better outing in Morocco 2026, having fallen
in the preliminaries under Coach David Ouma.
Greece based defender Dorcas Shikobe
and Simba Queens midfielder Korazon Aquino are the only surviving member of Ouma’s squad that did
duty in Cameroon 2026.
Odemba a proven winner who previously
won the FKF Women premier league with Kenya Police back to back in
2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons while
grabbing the 2024 title unbeaten.
The modern tactician who holds a
CAF A licence also won the Kenya secondary school National title with Highway
Secondary school in 2024 by defeating Musingu Secondary School 3-2 on penalties
after a 1-1 draw.
“We had a game plan that worked
in both legs and we are proud of our girls for managing a double over the West
Africans who are no pushovers. We will work hard to ensure we fight for honors
and not only make numbers in the tournament that has the best in Africa,” Odemba
said.
The girls are expected to land in the country this evening, with attention shifting to preparations for the tournament, ahead of the 16 teams draw set for next month.
