Penalty misery denies Harambee Starlets final berth in 4-nation tournament
By Luke Oluoch, June 6, 2026A hard-fighting Harambee failed to advance to the final of the four-nation tournament in Zambia, going down 4-1 to the hosts in a heartbreaking penalty shootout on Saturday, May 6, 2026, at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Despite conceding an early goal, Beldine Odemba’s charges fought back to level the tie in the 77th minute through Fasila Adhiambo and sent the tie to penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Starlets’ push for a back-to-back final appearance in yet another Four Nations Games was, however, curtailed in the post-match shootouts as the Copper Queens came out on top, scoring their four shots in relation to Kenya’s one.
Zambia scored all their spot kicks through Irene Lungu, Racheal Kundananji, Saliyah Mwanza, and Ochumba Oseke.
Third-place playoff
Kenya will now proceed to face Lesotho, who fell to Zimbabwe in the other semifinal played at the same venue.
Mighty Warriors beat Lesotho 3-1 in the Four Nations tournament in Zambia in the first encounter.
Captain Emmaculate Msipa, Ethel Chinyerere and Rutendo Makore scored for Zimbabwe
Lekote strikes to bring Lesotho level in the clash before the Zimbabweans re-established their lead with a couple of goals.
Kenya runs the Zambians close
The clash pitting the two WAFCON-bound rivals proved an encounter full of contest in both departments as the superior Zambians, placed 64 places above their counterparts, faced a determined Kenyan team not intent on pleasantries playing away.
Odemba elected to start with MWanahalima Adam and Martha Amunyolete in the midfield as a defensive pair of Elizabeth Ochaka and Ruth Ingosi lined up ahead of Annedy Kundu in goal.
The burly Tereza Engesha of Kenya Police Bullets led the line with the help of Fasila Adhiambo.
Odemba started the final half after trailing the Zambian by introducing Marion Serenge before she added more firepower forwards by summoning UAE-based Violet Nanjala.
Starlets came close to an equaliser in the 70th minute after a nice touch and go, but keeper Nali proved unbeatable from the Zambia goal.
FIFA Series
They could not deny Fasila, who scored in the 77th minute.
Thrilling end-to-end action in the final half, with Fasila Adhiambo’s equaliser bringing the winds back into the Kenyans’ sails.
They should have snatched a late winner from Violet Nanjala, who saw a goal-bound shot turned outside for a corner before Annnedy Kundu, starting at goal, also kept out a dangerous-looking free kick to take the game to penalties.
Action now shifts to Tuesday, June 9, 2026, when the third-place and final playoff will take centre stage.
Kenya went into the tournament eyeing improvement from their second-place finish in the April FIFA Women’s Series showing.
Odemba’s team beat India to secure a final clash against Australia’s Matildas in the final four days later.
Their push for a maiden FIFA series title on home soil, however, went up in smoke after the Sam Kerr-led team outsmarted them in the finals.