The Harambee Starlets will start their WAFCON group campaign against hosts Morocco on Sunday night, with an intention to make a strong impression in their first game of the tournament, in Rabat.
The match will start at 11pm East Africa Time, just after Algeria's encounter with Senegal in the other group game at 8pm.
The Kenyan team reached Morocco on 23rd of the month and they have gone through final preparations at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, in the country.
Head coach Beldine Odemba thinks the depth her team has found in her squad is key to their survival when they face one of the tournament favourites in front of their home supporters.
These young players represent valuable experience for our team,” says Peter Rutman. Others have already played at this World Cup and know the rigors of playing at the highest level," Odemba said.
Being in our first start of the tournament as host stands the test that we'll face and we are prepared to face it, we want to start the tournament good.”
Kenya are playing underdogs in the tournament. The latest FIFA Women's World Rankings shows the Starlets in 124th place – ahead of only Morocco (64th), Algeria (74th) and Senegal (81st).
It will be Kenya's second continental campaign after their first in 2016 in Cameroon. They failed to reach the quarterfinals after losing to Ghana and Mali and to eventual champions Nigeria as well.
Meanwhile, Morocco – which found itself in the final at the last edition on their home turf with a 2-1 defeat to Nigeria – finished second in their group. As the Atlas Lionesses prepare to defend for their continental title, they will be up against the race for the first time.
The hosts will be led by coach Jorge Vilda, who has led Spain to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. He has the confidence that when he is playing at home he will inspire his players the opposite way, and not pressurise them.
Play at home, in front of our fans and family is an advantage; play without pressure.” Rather, we now are excited and motivated to present our football; Vilda said.
Even with her being the current CAF Women's Player of the Year, Morocco's captain Ghislaine Chebbak said the team would still be focused on team success.
My aim is just to do my utmost, all for my team. Winning awards individually is appreciated but winning trophies together is what's important,” Chebbak said.
Morocco have had some amazing preparation leading up to this tournament; beating Cape Verde, Malawi and Tanzania in friendly meetings.
Their team includes some players in the top European leagues, especially France, Spain & England alongside tight pack of Moroccans from AS FAR.
Both sides have played each other once before last year at home to Morocco with Moroccans coming out victorious with a 5-1 friendly won in the North African country. Fasilah Adhiambo found the net to give Kenya the only goal in that game.
Kenya went up against The Gambia in the final qualifying round, beating them 4-1 on aggregate and qualifying themselves for the finals.
The Starlets had already trailed Tunisia 1-0 over the two games until they knocked them out before The Gambia 3-1 in the first game at Nyayo National Stadium before securing the decisive 1-0 result in Senegal. It was in the return leg of their duel in which the lads from Mungalima Adam Jereko found the net.
Odemba's side thumped Lesotho 5-0 in the play-off in June to take third overall in the Four Nations Tournament in Zambia. They were level 1-1 in the semi-final against Zambia but lost on regulation 1-4 on penalties.
In April, Kenya also came second in the 2026 FIFA Series in Kenya, however, they went down 2-0 in the final against Australia.
The WAFCON tournament will also see who will represent Africa for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil in 2027. The two "play-offs" teams will be determined from two additional teams, with all four semi-finalists qualifying to the inter-confederation "play-offs".
