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Kenya pip Tunisia to advance to final round of 2026 Wafcon qualifiers
Harambee Starlets striker Tereza Engesha (centre) celebrates her goal against Tunisia with teammates during their 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier second leg match at the Sousse Stadium in Tunsia on February 26, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Tereza Engesha's first half strike was enough to hand Harambee Starlets victory in the return leg which saw the hosts miss two penalties either side of halftime.
- The two sides had drawn 0-0 in the first leg played last Friday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Striker Tereza Engesha’s sixth-minute goal was enough to send Kenya’s Harambee Starlets to the second and final round of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers after a 1-0 second leg victory over Tunisia at the Sousse Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
The win came after a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi last Friday. Starlets will face Gambia, who advanced by defeating Niger 4-1 on aggregate, winning 2-1 and 2-0 in their respective legs.
Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba made two key changes to the starting lineup, introducing Engesha for Fasilah Adhiambo and Jentrix Shikangwa for Cynthia Shilwatso in attack.
Goalkeeper Lilian Awuor, who saved two penalties in the match, retained her spot between the posts, supported by a defensive lineup of Eneza Mango, captain Dorcas Shikobe, Ruth Ingosi, and Janet Mumo. Lavender Akinyi, Corazone Aquino, and Elizabeth Wambui held their places in midfield.
Engesha made an immediate impact, capitalising on a mispass by Tunisia’s right-back Rania Aouina. She skillfully dribbled past defenders before firing a long-range shot past goalkeeper Barka Machado to give Kenya an early lead.
Harambee Starlets striker Tereza Engesha (centre) celebrates her goal against Tunisia with teammates during their 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier second leg match at the Sousse Stadium in Tunsia on February 26, 2025.
Despite being brought in to strengthen the attack, Shikangwa missed two crucial scoring chances. In the 23rd minute, she found herself one-on-one with the Tunisia goalkeeper after a well-placed pass from Jereko, but failed to convert. Another opportunity came in the 44th minute when she misfired from a promising position inside the box.
Defensively, debutant Mumo struggled with clearances, putting Kenya under pressure. In the 37th minute, she fouled Tunisia’s Sabrine Ellouzi just outside the penalty area, leading to a free kick that Tunisia’s Chirine Lamti narrowly missed.
Seven minutes later, Mumo committed another foul, this time against Salma Zemzem inside the penalty box, resulting in a penalty. Lamti stepped up for Tunisia, but Awuor made a crucial save, blocking both the initial shot and the rebound.
At halftime, Odemba made adjustments, bringing in Violet Nanjala for Shikangwa to boost the attack and replacing Engesha with Sherly Angach to strengthen the midfield.
Tensions rose in the 78th minute when the referee awarded Tunisia another penalty after striker Aouina went down in the box, while Awuor attempted to collect the ball. However, Awuor rose to the occasion once again, making a second penalty save to secure Kenya’s hard-fought victory.