Harambee Starlets Set to Face Senegal in Wafcon 2026 Showdown
The Harambee Starlets will resume their campaign in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) tomorrow, July 31, as they take on Senegal in their second Group A match. The exciting encounter will take place at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat at 8 PM Kenyan time. Concurrently, the host nation Morocco will face Algeria in another vital Group A fixture at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, scheduled for 9 PM local time (11 PM Kenyan time). Both teams enter this match seeking redemption, having suffered defeats in their opening games; Kenya fell 4–0 to Morocco, while Senegal lost 2–0 against Algeria.
In terms of rankings, Senegal is seen as the favorite for this clash, sitting at 79th in the latest FIFA Women's World Rankings, which puts them 49 places ahead of the Starlets. Notably, this match marks the first encounter between Kenya and Senegal in Wafcon history. Senegal's previous experience against East African teams includes a victory against Uganda during the 2022 tournament, where they won 2-0 in the group stages.
Recent Form and Team Preparations
Despite the challenges, recent performances indicate that Kenya may be regaining their form, having won two out of their last five international matches. The Starlets achieved impressive victories against Lesotho (4–0) and India (2–0), although they faced setbacks against Morocco and Zambia. This marks only the second appearance for the Kenyan team at Wafcon, following their debut in 2016 in Cameroon. The Starlets, who were crowned champions of the 2021 Cecafa tournament, missed out on the 2018 and 2024 editions and had their 2020 campaign canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, they faced difficulties in the 2022 qualifiers owing to FIFA's suspension of the country due to government interference.
Under the guidance of coach Beldine Odemba, the team is determined to regroup and refocus after their opening match. Coach Odemba acknowledged the physical prowess of the Senegalese team but expressed confidence in her players' readiness to meet this challenge. "Senegal are a very physical team. They run a lot and are well built. They use this to their advantage. We understand the challenge and are ready to match them," she stated in a press conference held in Rabat.
Defender Enez Mango echoed the sentiment of unity and hope within the squad, emphasizing their determination to bounce back from the disappointing loss against Morocco. "This is an important match for all of us. We are confident that we can win," Mango said, highlighting their positive mindset as they prepare for the crucial encounter.
Senegal, on the other hand, has only secured one win in their last five matches, all of which were friendly encounters. Their recent form includes a narrow 1-0 victory over Egypt, a 3-3 draw against Burkina Faso, and losses to Nigeria and Algeria. This will be Senegal's fourth appearance in Wafcon, having previously reached the quarter-finals in 2022 and 2024 after strong performances in their respective groups.
Senegal's coach, Mame Moussa Cissé, has urged his team not to underestimate the capabilities of the Harambee Starlets. He emphasized that Kenya's qualification for the tournament is a testament to their skill and fighting spirit. Players to watch from the Senegalese side include captain Ndeye Awa Diakhaté and goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye, who has garnered attention for her impressive performances, including a clean sheet throughout the Wafcon qualifiers.
As reported by nation.africa.
