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WAFCON 2026: Awour confident of Harambee Starlets bouncing back against Senegal
28th July, 2026 02:16 PM
Harambee Starlets goalkeeper Lilian Awour has expressed confidence that Kenya can recover from their opening defeat and revive their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals at the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Starlets suffered a 4-0 loss to tournament hosts Morocco in their opening Group A fixture on Sunday, July 26, 2026, but Awour remains optimistic that the team can produce better performances in their upcoming matches against Senegal and Algeria.
The Farul Constanța goalkeeper, who competes in Romania’s Women’s Premier League, made a series of important saves during the match to prevent Morocco from increasing their advantage. Although disappointed by the result, she believes Kenya has learned valuable lessons that will help them bounce back.
“We gave our best, but the outcome was not what we wanted. Going into the next match, we will correct the mistakes we made against Morocco. I want to assure Kenyans that we will fight for a win against Senegal. We struggled to settle in the first half and conceded three goals, but after that we improved, identified our mistakes and made the necessary adjustments,” she said.
Looking ahead
Awour, who is the only member of the current Harambee Starlets squad that also represented Kenya during their first-ever WAFCON appearance in 2016, said the defeat has not dented the team’s morale or ambition.
“Our confidence is still there and the motivation remains high. Our objective is still to reach the semi-finals. One defeat does not mean everything is over. We still have hope because we have two matches left to play,” she added.
Head coach Beldine Odemba’s side now heads into a decisive clash with Senegal, who also lost their opening match after falling 2-0 to Algeria. Victory will be crucial for Kenya if they are to remain in contention for a place in the knockout rounds, as only the top two teams from Group A will advance.
Kenya will face Senegal on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the Olympic Stadium, with kick-off set for 11:00 pm Kenyan time. Earlier that evening, Morocco will meet Algeria at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, with the match beginning at 8:00 pm Kenyan time.
In Group B, Tanzania strengthened their hopes of reaching the next stage after securing a valuable 2-1 win over former champions South Africa on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Action continues in Group C on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, with Zambia scheduled to play Egypt at the Olympic Stadium from 8:00 pm Kenyan time, while 10-time champions Nigeria will take on WAFCON newcomers Malawi at Al Madina Stadium, with kick-off at 11:00 pm Kenyan time.
