Beldine Odemba: Starlets aim to bounce back against Senegal in crucial WAFCON clash
By Joel Masibo, July 29, 2026Kenya’s Harambee Starlets will be looking to revive their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign when they take on Senegal in their second Group A fixture on Thursday, July 30,2026 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
The East Africans head into the contest determined to recover from a difficult opening outing, where they were beaten 4-0 by tournament hosts Morocco. The Atlas Lionesses, coached by 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda, proved too strong as Kenya’s hopes of claiming a historic first WAFCON victory suffered an early setback.
With the decisive encounter kicking off at 8:00 pm Kenyan time, head coach Beldine Odemba revealed that restoring belief within the squad has been her primary focus in preparation for the match.
“The main area has been working on the players mentally to ensure they are ready in the right frame of mind. They are technically and tactically prepared, so we want them to be motivated, confident and ready to face the next opponent,” she said.
Odemba expects another demanding test against Senegal, highlighting the West Africans’ physical style of play. However, she remains confident her players are equipped to compete on equal terms after carefully studying their opponents.
“Tactically, we have analyzed how they played their first match. They are a physical side, but we are ready and capable of matching them. Senegal are also looking for their first win, so it won’t be an easy game. We must improve on converting our chances. We created two clear opportunities early in the match against Morocco and failed to capitalize on them. We are looking for a composed performance. If we concede first, how will we react? Concentration will be key. We want to create more chances and be able to capitalize,” she noted.
Both nations enter the clash desperate to register their first points of the tournament. Senegal also endured a disappointing start after falling 2-0 to Algeria, while Kenya was comfortably beaten by Morocco. Victory would keep the Starlets’ hopes of advancing beyond the group stage alive, while another defeat would leave the CECAFA representatives facing elimination and end their ambitions of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Thursday’s showdown will mark the first-ever meeting between Kenya and Senegal in women’s international football.
Starlets defender Enez Mango believes the squad has responded positively after the opening loss and is confident they can get their campaign back on track.
“Tomorrow is the most important game for us. We need all three points. We have prepared mentally, we are more confident, and tactically we have to be very smart because they are a physical side. We are ready and hungry for the match,” she said.
Respect for Kenya
Senegal coach Serigne Mousse also expressed respect for Kenya, insisting his players cannot afford to overlook the East Africans.
“We need to be more competitive and make the best of this opportunity. Kenya has players with strong abilities. They are aggressive and possess talented individuals,” he said.
Following defensive lapses and midfield struggles in the opening defeat, Odemba is expected to make tactical changes aimed at improving the team’s structure and organization. Kenya’s backline came under sustained pressure against Morocco, while the midfield failed to offer sufficient protection, resulting in several costly errors.
This year’s expanded 16-team WAFCON carries even greater significance, with the competition doubling as the African qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The four teams that reach the semi-finals will automatically secure qualification for the global showpiece.
After facing Senegal, Kenya will wrap up their Group A fixtures against Algeria on August 3 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, with kick-off set for 11:00 pm Kenyan time. Elsewhere in the group, hosts Morocco will meet Senegal at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, with that match scheduled to begin at 8:00 pm Kenyan time.