Kenya’s national women’s team has arrived in Miramas, France for a training camp ahead of the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The team is preparing for the tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco from July 25th to August 16th in various towns.
Head coach Beldine Odemba has emphasized that the training in France will be crucial in helping the team work on several key aspects before the competition kicks off. Odemba expressed her satisfaction with the Federation’s decision to send the team to France for the camp, stating “I am happy that the Federation has ensured that we travel to France for camp before heading to Morocco.”
The Harambee Starlets will begin their Group A campaign against hosts Morocco on July 26, followed by matches against Senegal on July 30th and Algeria on August 3. According to Odemba, the team must approach every match with the mindset that it is a final, as their goal is to reach the later stages of the tournament. “Our target is to reach the semi-finals, and we will approach every match with the belief that we can achieve our objective,” said Odemba.
The WAFCON will also serve as a qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The top four teams will qualify for the FIFA World Cup, while two more teams will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs. Kenya and Tanzania are the two teams from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations that will participate in the WAFCON.
The team’s roster includes goalkeepers Annedy Kundu, Lilian Awuor, and Vi, defenders Leah Andiema, Elizabeth Ochaka, Ruth Ingosi, and Vinthambi, midfielders Mwanalima Adam, Martha Amunyolete, Tereza Engesha, Fasila Adhiambo, Lorna Nyarinda, Mercy Airo, Airin Madalina, and Shaline Nambengele, and forwards Shirleen Opisa, Eglay Mukhwana, Marion Serenge, Violet Nanjala, and Valerie Nekesa.
