Starlets coach Odemba targets semi-final berth at WAFCON Finals

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has set her sights on a semi-final finish when Kenya makes its long-awaited return to the 2026 African Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The continental showpiece is scheduled for March 17 to April 3, 2026, in Morocco, and marks the Starlets’ second appearance at the tournament after their 2016 debut in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Fully aware of the heightened expectations and the magnitude of the task ahead, Odemba remains calm and focused.

“In previous tournaments, we were often caught off-guard due to limited preparation. This time, we want to start early to avoid an early exit like in 2016,” she said. “Good preparation will be key to our success, and our target is to reach the semi-finals.”

The tactician expressed optimism that the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), working with the Ministry of Sports, will organize high-quality friendly matches during upcoming international windows to sharpen the squad ahead of the tournament.

“We are not resting. We plan to meet both FKF and the Ministry of Sports to chart the way forward for WAFCON. His Excellency President Ruto also promised to meet us, and we are eagerly looking forward to that,” she added.

Odemba also spoke candidly about the challenges of assembling a competitive squad, particularly in assessing players’ form—especially those based abroad.

“Assembling the team is one of the toughest tasks because it’s hard to monitor players’ performances in their clubs, more so those playing outside the country,” she explained. “I often rely on online updates about them, but things can look different once we are in camp. Early preparations will help us overcome that challenge.”

The Starlets earned their WAFCON ticket after a spirited qualification campaign, edging out Tunisia with a hard-fought 1–0 away win following a draw in Nairobi. Goalkeeper Lilian Awuor was the hero, saving two penalties to keep Kenya’s dream alive before the team brushed aside The Gambia 4–1 on aggregate in the final round.

With renewed belief, early planning, and government support, Odemba hopes this generation of Starlets will go further than ever before and etch their name into African football history.