Harambee Starlets gear up for Cecafa title chase

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba on Tuesday named a 23-player squad ahead of the 2025 Cecafa Senior Women's Challenge Cup, set to kick off in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Thursday.

This announcement comes amid speculation over Odemba's future following Kenya’s 5-1 loss to Morocco in a friendly match last Wednesday.

Reports had suggested that the CAF "A" licensed coach had stepped down, prompting the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to begin considering potential replacements.

However, Nation Sport has learnt that Odemba held a meeting with a senior FKF official and resolved to continue in her role.

A source confirmed, "She was previously undecided about leading the team to Tanzania." The team was scheduled to arrive at Stadion Hotel in Nairobi on Tuesday and depart for Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.

New faces in the squad include midfielder Medina Abubakar Hussein (Kibera Soccer Women) and striker Swaum Nanjaka Masungo (Vihiga Queens), both of whom feature in the Football Kenya Federation Women's Premier League (FKF-WPL).

The tournament, which runs till June 22, will be played in a round-robin format.

Kenya opens its campaign against Burundi on June 14, followed by matches against Uganda (June 17), South Sudan (June 19), and hosts Tanzania on June 21. All matches will be played at the Azam Complex.

The Cecafa tournament is also part of the Starlets’ build-up for their 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) final-round qualifier against The Gambia.

Kenya will host the first leg on October 20, with the return leg set for October 28 in The Gambia. The aggregate winner will qualify directly for Wafcon finals.

Kenya earned a spot in this final round after defeating Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate in March.

The Starlets last won the Cecafa title in 2019 under then-head coach David Ouma, beating Tanzania 2-0 in the final at the Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam.

Starlets striker Jentrix Shikangwa, who is not part of the current squad, scored both goals as a substitute in the 70th and 87th minutes, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals.

That victory avenged a 1-0 defeat to Tanzania in the 2016 final in Jinja, Uganda.

Since 1986, Kenya has participated in the regional tournament three times—2016, 2018, and 2019—finishing second, third, and first, respectively. A FIFA suspension prevented the team from defending their title in 2022.

This year's tournament features defending champions Uganda, hosts and former champions Tanzania (2016 and 2018), Burundi, and South Sudan alongside Kenya.

Tanzania will also host the fifth edition of the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers from September 3 to 19.

This will be the second time Tanzania hosts the event, having previously done so in 2023 when Simba Queens won the title.

Representing Kenya in the Cecafa club qualifiers will be FKF-WPL champions Kenya Police Bullets. The Bullets lost 2-1 to Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) in last season’s final held in Addis Ababa.

Squad 

Goalkeepers: Annedy Kundu, Lilian Awuor, Vivian Shiyonzo

Defenders: Elizabeth Ochaka, Alice Mideri, Tabitha Amoit, Janet Mumo, Ruth Ingosi, Dorcas Shikobe, Enez Mango, Vivian Nasaka

Midfielders: Diana Wacera, Martha Amunyolet, Fasilah Adhiambo, Lavender Ann Akinyi, Corazone Aquino

Strikers: Emily Morang’a, Swaum Nanjaka Masungo, Faith Mboya, Elizabeth Wambui, Tumaini Waliaula, Violet Nanjala