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Starlets bank on home advantage in 2026 Wafcon qualifier against Tunisia
Harambee Starlets striker Cynthia Shilwatso trains at Absa grounds in Nairobi on February 18, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The winner of this two-legged tie will face either Niger or Gambia in the final qualifying round between October 20 and 28.
- Gambia took a 2-0 advantage over Niger in their first-leg match on Wednesday at Stade Général Seyni Kountché in Niamey. The return leg will be played next Monday at Stade Lat-Dior in Thiès, Senegal.
Kenya will look to capitalise on home advantage as they take on Tunisia in the first leg of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifier on Friday at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi, from 3pm.
The second leg is scheduled for next Wednesday, February 26 at the Sousse Olympic Stadium in Tunisia.
Under head coach Beldine Odemba, the Harambee Starlets concluded their final training session Thursday morning with a squad of 28 players. Tunisia, led by coach Kamel Saad, arrived in Kenya on Wednesday with a 34-member delegation, including 22 players and 12 officials.
They trained at Kasarani Annex that evening and held their final session at Ulinzi on Thursday.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides, with Tunisia heading into the match as favourites due to their higher Fifa ranking and Wafcon experience. The North Africans, ranked 71st globally, have featured in two continental finals (1962, 2022) and will make their third appearance at the rescheduled 2024 Wafcon in Morocco this July.
Kenya, ranked 151st, has only made one Wafcon appearance in 2016, where they struggled in Group 'B', losing to Ghana (3-1), Nigeria (4-0), and Mali (3-1).
In 2023, Starlets came close to qualification, but fell 2-1 on aggregate to Botswana in the final round of the 2024 Wafcon qualifiers after eliminating Cameroon in the first round via penalties.
Despite the challenge ahead, team captain Dorcas Shikobe remains optimistic.
"We are prepared and promise to come out victorious. The mood is excellent, and even the youngest players are ready. We are approaching this match like any other, but we know we have the qualifying challenge. Our motivation is qualifying for Wafcon, just like our fans rallied behind the U17 team when they hosted their World Cup qualifiers—let them come and support us. We are taking it one game at a time."
Coach Odemba emphasised the significance of their preparation period, acknowledging the difficulty but also the advantage of having a second leg to make adjustments.
"The team had a few days to train with foreign-based players after the window opened on the 16th, with the last two arriving on Tuesday. The squad is ready, with players prepared from their respective leagues," said the CAF 'A' license holder.
Sports PS Peter Tum (light blue coat) poses for a photo with Harambee Starlets players at Stadion Hotel in Nairobi on February 19, 2024.
"Support from fans is crucial since home matches provide familiar conditions, while away conditions are unforeseen," added Odemba, who also coaches the U-20 women's team, Rising Starlets.
Seven of the starting 11 who faced Botswana in 2023 are still in the squad, including goalkeeper Annedy Kundu, defender Ruth Ingotsi, Shikobe, midfielder Corazon Aquino, and forwards Cynthia Shilwatso, Mwanagalima Adam, and Elizabeth Wambui.
Defender Vivian Nasaka was set to link up with the team from Turkey on Wednesday, but did not travel.
"Nasaka will not be in the team, but a replacement is ready. In previous qualifiers, overconfidence after victories against Cameroon and Botswana was a challenge. The team is now focusing on their mental approach and feels calmer this time," said Odemba after Thursday’s training.
The winner of this two-legged tie will face either Niger or Gambia in the final qualifying round between October 20 and 28.
Gambia took a 2-0 advantage over Niger in their first-leg match on Wednesday at Stade Général Seyni Kountché in Niamey. The return leg will be played next Monday at Stade Lat-Dior in Thiès, Senegal.