Hello

Your subscription is almost coming to an end. Don’t miss out on the great content on Nation.Africa

Ready to continue your informative journey with us?

Hello

Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.Africa is still within reach. Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

Reclaim your full access. Click below to renew.

Subscribe for a month to get full access

Premium

Odemba confident as Harambee Starlets prepare to face Tunisia

Beldine Odemba

Beldine Odemba gestures from the touchline during their FKF Women's Premier league match against Kenya Defence Force starlets on February 8, 2025 at Ruaraka.

Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
New Content Item (1)

By  Toto Arege

Correspondent

NMG Sport

What you need to know:

  • Kenya is aiming for its second-ever WAFCON appearance, having last competed in the tournament in 2016, where they were eliminated early in the group stages. They narrowly missed qualification in 2023, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Botswana in the second round, which led to the postponed 2024 event in Morocco this July.
  • Tunisia, on the other hand, has qualified for WAFCON twice, with their last qualification in 2022.

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba is confident in her team’s readiness to take on Tunisia in the first round of the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers on Friday.

The match will take place at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, with the return leg scheduled for the following Wednesday in Tunis.

During a media session at Absa Grounds in Nairobi on Monday, Odemba acknowledged the strength of Tunisia, a team that consistently performs well in FIFA windows and competitive friendlies.

Related

"They consistently perform well in FIFA windows and competitive friendlies. However, we are ready for the challenge and will give our utmost effort," Odemba said.

As a CAF A licensed coach, Odemba emphasised the importance of home support, underscoring how crucial it is for the team’s performance.

"Playing at home is crucial for training and local backing. Winning is essential for our progression in the tournament, and the team has been working hard towards this goal," she added.

As of Monday, 30 of the 36 provisional squad members had reported to camp, with the remaining six expected by Wednesday.

"We already have 10 foreign-based players, and we've welcomed six from Tanzania. The final player, defender Vivian Nasaka from Turkey, will arrive on the 19th," Odemba explained.

In preparation for the qualifiers, the team has already played two solid friendlies, which allowed the coaching staff to identify tactical challenges and areas for improvement. Odemba also revealed that one more friendly match is scheduled before the tournament opener.

"We’ve played two solid friendlies, which allowed us to identify tactical challenges and improvements. One more friendly is scheduled before our next match to ensure we are ready," she said.

When asked about injuries, Odemba acknowledged there are some, but chose not to elaborate.

"As I know, Mwahalima ‘Dogo’ Jereko will be here on Tuesday alongside striker Violet Nanjala. About injuries, yes, there are some, but I’m not going to talk much about it today," Odemba stated.

Kenya is aiming for its second-ever WAFCON appearance, having last competed in the tournament in 2016, where they were eliminated early in the group stages. They narrowly missed qualification in 2023, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Botswana in the second round, which led to the postponed 2024 event in Morocco this July.

Tunisia, on the other hand, has qualified for WAFCON twice, with their last qualification in 2022.