Sports

FIFA Women’s Series: Saturday schedule as Harambee Starlets target podium finish

Joel Masibo 11th April, 2026 08:41 AM

Harambee Starlets goalkeepers in training. PHOTO/https://www.facebook.com/HarambeeStarlets

Home side Harambee Starlets will be in action aiming for a podium finish at the inaugural FIFA Series – Women, which kicks off on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Nyayo National Stadium.

Kenya will host the four-nation tournament, which brings together Harambee Starlets (Kenya), Australia, India and Malawi.

The tournament will serve as part of Harambee Starlets’ preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, set to be held in Morocco from July 25 to August 16, 2026.

Tournament schedule

The opening day will feature two matches at Nyayo National Stadium.

Australia will face Malawi at 2.00 pm before Harambee Starlets take on India at 5:00 pm.

The tournament will conclude on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, with the third-place play-off scheduled for 2;00 pm, followed by the final at 5:30 pm.

PHOTO/https://www.facebook.com/HarambeeStarlets

FIFA rankings

Among the four teams taking part in the tournament, Australia are the highest-ranked side at 15th in the world.

India are ranked 67th, Kenya 134th and Malawi 153rd.

Harambee Starlets squad

In the 24-player squad named earlier by head coach Beldine Odemba, Lorine Ilavonga is ruled out of the final squad after sustaining an injury during a domestic league match prior to the team’s final preparation phase.

Separately, four players who had been named in the provisional squad and are based at Simba Queens were not available at the start of the FIFA international window on April 7, 2026, due to club commitments in a domestic league fixture.

Fasila Adhiambo and Ruth Ingosi checked into camp on Friday, April 10, 2026, and will be training with the team ahead of the tournament.

The technical bench’s final selection has been guided by the need to ensure continuity in preparations, full integration within the training camp period, and overall squad cohesion ahead of the opening match at the FIFA Women’s Series.