Morocco Make Powerful WAFCON Statement as Harambee Starlets Fall in Tournament Opener
Sports Updated: 27 July 2026 09:05 EAT
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Hosts Morocco launched their TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Kenya’s Harambee Starlets 4-0 in their Group A opener at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium on Sunday.
The convincing victory underlined the Atlas Lionesses’ status as one of the tournament favourites while handing Kenya a difficult start on their return to Africa’s biggest women’s football stage.
Backed by a passionate home crowd, Morocco controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, displaying fluid attacking football and clinical finishing. Veteran striker Ibtissam Jraidi starred with a brace, while Sakina Ouzraoui and Meriem Atiq also found the back of the net to complete an impressive team performance.
The Atlas Lionesses wasted little time imposing themselves, dictating possession and stretching Kenya’s defence with quick passing and intelligent movement. Their dominance paid off as they built a comfortable lead before sealing an authoritative victory in the second half.
For Kenya, the defeat marks a disappointing beginning to a tournament that symbolizes the nation’s return to continental football after a decade-long absence. Despite the scoreline, the Harambee Starlets showed moments of resilience and determination against one of Africa’s strongest women’s sides but struggled to cope with Morocco’s relentless attacking pressure.
The Starlets arrived in Morocco determined to make an impact after an impressive qualification campaign, with head coach Beldine Odemba previously insisting her team had not travelled merely to participate but to compete for a historic place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, the opening-day setback means Kenya will now need to respond strongly in their remaining Group A fixtures to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive.
Although the result will disappoint Kenyan fans, there were valuable lessons to take from facing a well-drilled Moroccan side that has continued to invest heavily in women’s football. Morocco’s performance reflected the remarkable progress the North African nation has made in recent years, building on its success as finalists in previous editions and its growing reputation on the global stage.
For the Harambee Starlets, attention now shifts to regrouping quickly as they prepare for the next challenge in what remains a highly competitive Group A. The team’s blend of experienced campaigners and emerging young talent still has an opportunity to demonstrate the progress Kenyan women’s football has made since its last WAFCON appearance.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s commanding victory sends an early warning to the rest of the field. The hosts not only collected three valuable points but also laid down a marker as they pursue a memorable campaign on home soil, buoyed by an impressive display that showcased their quality, ambition, and championship credentials.
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