Harambee Starlets goalkeeper Lilian Awuor has expressed strong confidence that Kenya will outclass Gambia in the first leg of the 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers. The much-anticipated encounter takes place this Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium, with the Starlets eyeing a strong home performance before the return leg in Senegal.
Awuor, who plies her trade with Farul Constanța in the Turkish Women’s Premier League, believes playing on home soil gives Kenya a major edge. She emphasized that the team’s unity and determination will be key to securing a comfortable aggregate win and booking a ticket to Morocco 2026.
“We will be playing at home, and that’s a big advantage for us. An aggregate win will secure our qualification and open more opportunities for players, just as it did when the team qualified in 2016,” said Awuor.
The Beldine Odemba-led side is seeking to qualify for the continental showpiece for only the second time, their maiden appearance having come in 2016 under then coach David Ouma.
Kenya reached this stage after an impressive 1–0 away victory against Tunisia in Sousse earlier this year, with Tereza Engesha scoring the decisive goal. The win sealed a historic aggregate triumph, showing the Starlets’ growing strength on the continental stage.
A victory over Gambia across the two legs would send Kenya to the expanded 16-team WAFCON in Morocco, where the top four nations will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Head coach Beldine Odemba also expressed optimism, saying the team has been well-prepared during three weeks of residential training. “The morale in camp is high, and we have analyzed Gambia’s style of play. I am confident we will defeat them, and I’m glad we have no injury concerns,” she stated.
The match kicks off at 4:00 p.m., with tickets available online and via USSD. Regular seats go for KSh100, while VIP tickets are priced at KSh500.
