WAFCON: How Ivory Coast will gauge Harambee Starlets’ preparation after Benin setback
Harambee Starlets are set to face off against the Ivory Coast for their second and final pre-Women’s African Cup of Nations friendly clash this Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
With just over a fortnight to the start of the championship scheduled for March 17, Kenya seeks to ramp up its preparation with the clash against the fancied West Africans.
Trip to Abidjan
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The clash will be a second test for Beldine Odemba’s side since arriving in Abidjan as part of their preparations for the continental showpiece.
On Monday, March 2, 2026, two days after arriving in Ivory Coast, Odemba’s charges faced Benin in their first build match in Ebimpe.
The tie ended with the selected Kenyan team falling to a 2-0 defeat to the Amazons.
Odemba handed several new faces a run of games, and the coach is expected to field a different-looking team against the hosts.
First-choice goalkeeper Lilian Awuor, youngster Elizabeth Ochaka, and Vivian Nasaka were among those who featured in the defensive team.
Morale levels
Starlets look to avoid back-to-back defeats and a potential psychological blow to their morale levels.
According to the team’s itinerary for the games, Starlets will also travel to France for a pre-tournament camp for the 15th edition of the women’s championship.
“The squad will travel to Miramas, France, for a residential training camp that will run until March 15, 2026, before heading to Morocco for the continental tournament,” FKF confirmed in a past update.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will run from March 17 to April 3, 2026. The Starlets are in a tricky pool A against hosts Morocco, Algeria, and Senegal.
Group opponents
They will open their Group A campaign against hosts Morocco on March 17. The Starlets will then face Senegal on March 20 before concluding the group stage against Algeria on March 23.
Kenya will be seeking improved tidings on their first return to the continental championship since 2019, when they exited at the preliminary stages.
