Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has expressed confidence in her team’s ability to secure a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, following their qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). After a 10-year wait, Harambee Starlets are set to return to the continental tournament, having sealed their place with an impressive 4-1 aggregate victory over The Gambia in the final qualifying round.
The Starlets triumphed with a 3-1 win in the first leg at Nyayo National Stadium, and followed it up with a 1-0 victory in Senegal to secure their WAFCON qualification. Their road to Morocco also included a memorable win against Tunisia, further demonstrating their potential on the continental stage.
Odemba sees the 2026 WAFCON as a crucial stepping stone toward their World Cup goal. “We are not just aiming to participate, we want to compete,” she emphasized. With WAFCON now serving as the sole African qualifier for the Women’s World Cup, Harambee Starlets need to perform exceptionally well in Morocco to secure a historic World Cup spot.
The key to World Cup qualification lies in reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFCON. The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and for Harambee Starlets, this represents the primary path to qualification. However, if they fall short of a semi-final finish, they will still have a second opportunity through an inter-continental play-off tournament, where the best-ranked quarter-finalists will compete for a spot at the World Cup.
Odemba has called for increased support from both the Kenyan Football Federation and the Ministry of Sports to help the team achieve its goals. “We need their backing so we can aim higher than our previous WAFCON performances,” she said, stressing the importance of focused preparation as they target Kenya’s first-ever appearance in the Women’s World Cup.
With players like captain Mwanalima “Dogo” Adam leading the charge, Harambee Starlets are determined to make history and take Kenya to the global stage in 2027.
