Harambee Starlets facing acid test against Algeria in Women's AFCON build-up

Algeria women’s national football team have named a strong squad that will face Harambee Starlets in two friendly matches in Bilda, Algeria, the first set for Wednesday, 26 November from 7 PM.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news

The friendly matches, serving as preparation for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, for both nations, pit the lowly-ranked Starlets against a star-studded Algeria side, as coach Farid Benstiti has included a majority of his players from top European leagues.

Coach Benstiti has only named two local-based players, in goalkeepers Lamia Lounas from ASE Alger Centre and Amina Haleyi of JS Kabylie, who will vie for a starting berth against Chloé N’Gazi (Les Marseillaises).

The squad is headlined by veteran captain Sofia Guellati from RC Lens in France, Inès Belloumou, who plays for West Ham United in England, and midfielder Marine Dafeur of Bristol City.

Polish club responds after Timothy Ouma goes missing following Harambee Stars call up

On her part, Beldine Odemba, guiding the 140th-ranked Starlets against the 80th-placed North Africans, named a squad of 23 that is a mix of youth and experience, making several changes to the squad that secured WAFCON qualification against The Gambia.

Emily Moranga, Providence Mukalo, Valerie Nekesa, Sheryl Muyera, and Euphraiser Shilwatso will look to impress the tactician, with this being a baptism by fire for Zetech Sparks’ defender Muyera, who earns her first call-up, should she get the nod from Odemba in the two matches.

The friendlies will evoke memories of the last meeting between the two nations back in 2016, when the East African nation stunned the North Africans to qualify for the Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON), now WAFCON, on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

Three players, skipper Dorcas Shikobe, midfielder Corazone Aquino, and forward Mwanalima Adam, who were a key part of the 2016 squad that qualified for the continental competition for the first time, and shot stopper Lilian Awuor, who at the time was 17 but still made the AWCON squad, carry such memories to today’s match.

Back in 2016, the first leg played on 8 April in Algiers ended in a 2-2 draw, Naima Bouheni-Benziane scoring a brace for the hosts while Kenya’s goals came from an own goal with Adam getting the equaliser.

The return leg at Kasarani on 12 April saw substitute Cheris Avilia Salono equalise in the 70th minute after Naima’s goal in the 21st minute, as Kenya sailed through.

Why Madina Okot is projected to join Indiana Fever in Women's NBA

History aside, Odemba’s charges have their work cut out as they face a North African side that impressed in this year’s WAFCON, achieving a historic qualification for the quarter-finals, only to be eliminated by Ghana 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw.

“I want to thank God for this opportunity and the federation for making this friendly possible. We know we are ready, and hopefully, during the game, we will be able to execute all that we’ve been preparing.

WAFCON is ahead of us, and we will give it our all. It won’t be easy, but teamwork makes the dream work,” said Denmark-based forward, Adam, who missed the 2016 WAFCON as she sat her KCSE.

“Now I’m here, and I will give it my all to make the country proud. I will play for myself and for my country.”