Omanyala surprises Harambee Starlets with Kenyan meals in France camp

Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, paid a surprise visit to the Harambee Starlets in Miramas, France, lifting the team's spirits as they fine-tuned preparations for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Omanyala, who is also in Miramas for a high-performance training camp ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, visited the Starlets alongside his team, bringing traditional Kenyan meals including: ugali, chapati and other local delicacies.

Download our Mozzart Sport App for more news

The sprint star said the visit was aimed at encouraging the players before they embark on their WAFCON campaign in Morocco.

"We visited the Harambee Starlets at their training camp as they prepared for WAFCON. We carried a taste of home for them, including ugali, chapati and other Kenyan meals.

We spent some time interacting with the team. It wasn't a long speech or anything formal. I simply wished them all the best and encouraged them to represent Kenya proudly at the tournament,” he told Mozzart Sport.

The sprint sensation also expressed his delight at the progress of women's sport in the country, saying the Starlets' qualification is a positive sign for the future of Kenyan sport.

"I'm passionate about seeing sport grow in Kenya, especially women's sport. For a long time, the spotlight has largely been on men, but it's encouraging to see our women getting opportunities to compete on big stages like WAFCON. That shows the game is growing, and that's something I always hope and pray for because it's good for the future of sport in our country," he added.

Starlets secured their place at the continental showpiece after ending a 10-year absence from the tournament.

Kenyan javelin star targets strong finish in final Commonwealth Games appearance

The Beldine Odemba-coached outfit booked their ticket by defeating The Gambia 1-0 in the second leg of the final qualification round at Stade Lat Dior in Senegal, completing a commanding 4-1 aggregate victory.

Starlets travelled to Miramas for a week-long residential training camp designed to help the players acclimatize and sharpen their preparations ahead of the tournament.

They are scheduled to fly directly to Morocco on Thursday, 23 July, just three days before opening their campaign against hosts Morocco.

Kenya has been drawn in a tough Group A alongside tournament hosts Morocco, Senegal and Algeria.

Starlets will face Morocco on 26 July before taking on Senegal on 30 July and Algeria on 3 August.

US athlete credits Kenyan legend for inspiring him to career-best win at London Diamond League

Beyond continental glory, the tournament presents an even bigger opportunity for the Starlets.

A top-four finish would secure Kenya's first-ever qualification for the FIFA Women's World Cup, with the 2027 edition set to be hosted in Brazil.

Meanwhile, Omanyala is expected to depart France on Thursday, 23 July for Glasgow, Scotland, where he will continue preparations to defend his Commonwealth Games 100m title.