Beldine Odemba Confident as Harambee Starlets Intensify WAFCON 2026 Preparations

Sports Updated: 06 February 2026 11:18 EAT

The Harambee Starlets are intensifying their build-up to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a focused mini-camp aimed at evaluating local talent and strengthening the squad ahead of a tough group stage in Morocco.

From 1 to 6 February 2026, standout players from Kenya’s domestic leagues have been training under head coach Beldine Odemba, who wants to see how they perform in a national team environment.

“The purpose of this camp is to allow players performing well in the local leagues to show what they can do at a higher level,” Odemba said, acknowledging both the positive signs and the work that still lies ahead.

The coach also praised the growth in domestic women’s football, particularly the Women’s National Super League, and emphasized that these camps play a key role not only in preparing for tournaments but also in shaping a consistent style of play for the national team.

"I'm particularly pleased with the quality coming from the NSL. I hope players from the lower divisions continue to develop and make their mark," she added. "These camps are not just about tournaments; they help instill a way of playing that our players can carry into the national team whenever called," she said.

Kenya booked their place at WAFCON 2026 after a strong qualifying campaign, including a 3–1 win at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium and a 1–0 victory in Senegal, securing a 4–1 aggregate result over The Gambia. This marks the Starlets’ second appearance in the competition since 2016.

At the tournament draw in Rabat, Morocco, Kenya was placed in Group A — often tagged by analysts as the “group of death” — with hosts Morocco, Senegal, and Algeria. The challenging group will be a serious test when the competition begins on 17 March and runs until 3 April 2026.