Harambee Starlets stumble to second friendly defeat as WAFCON warmups enter final days

Kenya's women’s national team, the Harambee Starlets, on Wednesday, 4 March, wrapped up their March international friendlies on a losing note after going 1-0 down to the Ivory Coast at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news

Valencia forward Rebecca Elloh scored the decisive goal for the hosts, netting it in the 21st minute to condemn Starlets to a second friendly defeat in three days, following their 2-0 loss to Benin on Monday, 2 March, also in Ivory Coast.

Starlets, who are ranked 133rd in the world, were using the two friendlies as a crucial part of their preparations for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set for Morocco from Tuesday, 17 March, to Friday, 3 April.

Beldine Odemba’s side will be making its second appearance in the competition and will use the two fixtures against sides ranked on either side of them to assess where they stand.

Benin, who will not be at WAFCON, are ranked six places behind Kenya, while Ivory Coast, who will also be present in the 16-team tournament, are 61 positions above the Starlets.

On Wednesday, Odemba, in a bid to extend experience to her 25-woman squad, gave three players their national team debuts, naming all of Diana Ochol, Eglay Mukhwana, and Vidah Akeyo in her starting lineup.

©Harambee Starlets

Whilst the hosts ran away to another win over Kenya—the Starlets lost twice to Ivory Coast in 2025—the trio, plus other experienced players in the squad, namely, skipper Dorcas Shikobe, Mwanalima Adam, and Enez Mango, will have picked valuable lessons ahead of their second tilt in the championships since their debut in 2016.

Following the two friendlies, Starlets are set to embark on a pre-tournament residential training camp in Miramas, France, which will run until Sunday, March 15.

The squad will later head out to Morocco, where they will come up against the hosts on Tuesday, 17 March, before facing off with other Group A opponents Senegal (Friday, 20 March) and Algeria (Monday, 23 March).

Uncertainty clouds Harambee Starlets’ WAFCON 2026 participation as CAF set to issue statement

Final 25-Player Squad

Goalkeepers

Lilian Awuor, Annedy Kundu, Juliet Adhiambo

Defenders

Ruth Ingosi, Dorcas Shikobe, Enez Mango, Vivian Nasaka, Elizabeth Ochaka, Diana Ochol, Lorine Ilavonga, Elizabeth Muteshi

Midfielders

Lydia Akoth, Vidah Akeyo, Lorna Nyarinda, Fasila Adhiambo, Martha Amunyolet, Mwanalima Adam, Shaline Nambengele

Forwards

Violet Nanjala, Elizabeth Wambui, Jentrix Shikangwa, Shalyne Opisa, Airin Madalina, Valerie Nekesa, Eglay Mukhwana