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Beldine Odemba targets World Cup qualification as Harambee Starlets prepare for WAFCON return
09th July, 2026 11:39 AM
Kenya’s Harambee Starlets are gearing up for a long-awaited return to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after ending a 10-year absence from the continental competition.
Having qualified for Morocco 2026, head coach Beldine Odemba has made it clear that her side is aiming for much more than simply making up the numbers. The Kenyan tactician says the team’s biggest ambition is to earn a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The upcoming tournament carries extra significance because the four semi-finalists will automatically secure qualification for the global event. For Kenya, reaching the last four would mark a historic first appearance at the Women’s World Cup.
“We are not just going to participate; we are going to compete,” Odemba said.
“I believe we have grown tremendously as a team over the years. We have improved in many areas, and the friendly matches we have played have given us a clear picture of where we stand. We will be facing the best teams on the continent, but I believe we can match them and compete strongly.”
The Starlets’ qualification continues the impressive progress of women’s football in Kenya. Their return to WAFCON comes less than two years after Kenya’s Under-17 women’s team became the country’s first football side to qualify for a FIFA World Cup by reaching the 2024 tournament in the Dominican Republic.
Women’s football rising
Odemba believes that achievement is evidence that the women’s game is steadily advancing in the country.
“Women’s football in Kenya has been steadily growing. There is still a lot more that can and should be done, but I believe we are moving in the right direction,” she said.
“We now have more players earning opportunities abroad, which is a clear indication of the talent we possess. The talent has always been there; what we lacked were the opportunities, and now those opportunities are beginning to come.”
Preparations for Morocco have included participation in a four-team tournament held in Zambia, where Kenya produced encouraging displays.
The Starlets earned a 1-1 draw against hosts Zambia before losing in a penalty shootout and later registered an emphatic 6-0 victory over Lesotho. According to Odemba, both fixtures played an important role in assessing the squad’s readiness.
“Zambia are among the strongest teams in Africa and have enormous experience. They have played at the World Cup, the Olympics and multiple AFCON tournaments, so getting a result like that against them gave us plenty of positives,” Odemba explained.
“The Lesotho match, on the other hand, helped boost our confidence in front of goal and allowed us to work on different aspects of our attacking play. Both matches have been extremely beneficial in strengthening our preparations.”
With the competition drawing closer, Odemba estimates that the team has reached around 60 percent of its desired level and says the remaining weeks will be dedicated to polishing every aspect of their game.
The Starlets are expected to begin the final stage of their build-up with a four-day training camp at home, followed by two local friendly matches. They will then travel to France for a two-week residential camp before heading straight to Morocco for the tournament.
“From next month, we enter a very crucial phase of our preparation,” Odemba said.
“We have done an incredible amount of work since qualifying, but now we are approaching the most delicate stage. The four-day camp will help us assess where every player is physically and tactically before we move into the residential camp, where we will fine-tune everything ahead of the tournament.” She said.
WAFCON challenge
Kenya face a demanding challenge after being placed in Group A with tournament hosts Morocco, Algeria and Senegal. Odemba acknowledged the difficulty of the section but insists her players are ready to embrace it.
“It is definitely not an easy group,” she admitted.
“But if our goal is to qualify for the World Cup, then we must be prepared to compete against and beat the best teams. In a way, facing them early can help us build confidence. I am not worried at all because I have complete confidence in my players.”
The coach believes Kenya’s previous meetings with Morocco and Algeria will prove useful, while Senegal remain the only side they have yet to face.
“We have played both Morocco and Algeria before, so we understand their strengths and know how to approach those matches. Senegal is the only team we have not faced, but we expect a very difficult game.”
“These matches will test us, but they will also be an opportunity to show Africa that we are ready to compete at the highest level. As challenging as these games will be for us, they will not be easy for our opponents either.”
As the countdown to WAFCON Morocco 2026 continues, Kenya head into the tournament determined to improve on their previous appearance and pursue an unprecedented place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
