Beldine positive as Harambee Starlets step up WAFCON preps

Harambee Starlets have stepped up their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a locally based mini-camp designed to assess emerging talent and sharpen the squad ahead of a gruelling group stage at this year’s continental showpiece.

The camp, running from 1–6 February 2026, brings together standout performers from Kenya’s domestic leagues, giving them an opportunity to experience the national setup and stakes of international football under head coach Beldine Odemba.

“The purpose of this camp is to give players performing well in the local leagues an opportunity to show what they can do at a higher level,” Odemba said, adding that while she has seen encouraging talent, much work remains ahead.

The coach highlighted the progress in Kenyan women’s football, especially in the Women’s National Super League, and stressed that such camps are critical not just for immediate tournament preparation but also for embedding a long-term playing philosophy.

"I'm particularly pleased with the quality coming from the NSL. I hope players from the lower divisions continue to develop and make their mark," she added.

"These camps are not just about tournaments; they help instill a way of playing that our players can carry into the national team whenever called," she said.

The Harambee Starlets secured their place at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a strong showing in the CAF qualifying rounds. Aadvancing from the earlier stages, including a key win over Tunisia, Kenya faced The Gambia in the final round of qualifiers in October 2025.

At Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium, Kenya triumphed 3–1 in the first leg and backed it up with a 1–0 away victory in Senegal, sealing a 4–1 aggregate win and booking their ticket to Morocco. This qualification marks the Starlets’ second appearance in WAFCON history, with their previous outing in 2016.

At the official tournament draw in Rabat, Morocco, Kenya were placed in what many observers have dubbed the “group of death” — Group A — alongside formidable opponents hosts Morocco, Senegal and Algeria.

This challenging lineup will test the Starlets’ readiness and resilience when the WAFCON gets underway from 17 March to 3 April 2026.