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Starlets face Morocco in friendly encounter
Harambee Starlets striker Mwanahalima Adam in action during their 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against Tunisia at Ulinzi Sports Complex on February 21, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Odemba is using the match as part of her build-up for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers second round against Gambia in October.
- The aggregate winner will book a ticket to the 2026 Wafcon finals. The last time Kenya played Morocco was December last year, two back-to-back friendly encounters.
Kenya’s Harambee Starlets face Morocco in an international friendly match at The Village Sportif de Tangier Stadium in Tangier from 7pm (9pm Kenyan time).
A 23-strong squad under coach Beldine Odemba arrived in Tangier on Monday and have just a day to familiarise themselves with local conditions.
Odemba is using the match as part of her build-up for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers second round against Gambia in October.
The aggregate winner will book a ticket to the 2026 Wafcon finals. The last time Kenya played Morocco was December last year, two back-to-back friendly encounters.
The first match ended 2-2 before a dominant Kenya prevailed 5-0. The squad includes goalkeeper Vivian Shiyonzo of Kibera Soccer Women, who recorded 13 clean sheets in the recently concluded Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League (FKF-WPL).
Defenders Phoebe Aketch and Leah Andiema, striker Tumaini Waliaula, and midfielders Diana Wacera and Martha Amunyolet have made a comeback to the team.
Captain Dorcas Shikobe is also back from injury. Familiar faces include goalkeeper Annedy Kundu, defenders Ruth Ingosi, Enez Mango, Vivian Nasaka, with midfielders Sheril Angach, Fasila Adhiambo, and Corazone Aquino are also part of the squad.
Strikers Mwanahalima Adam, Violet Nanjala, Jentrix Shikangwa, Elizabeth Wambui, Faith Mboya, and Emily Morang’a are also in the squad.
Morocco are ranked 60th in the world by Fifa compared to Kenya’s 142nd. Kenya beat Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate in their Wafcon qualifiers first round in March.