Odemba confident Starlets can rewrite Women’s Africa Cup of Nations history

CHARLENE MALWA

March 6, 2026 2 min read

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba remains confident that Kenya can rewrite its Women’s Africa Cup of Nations history, despite a challenging end to their West African tour.

The Starlets fell 1–0 to Cote d'Ivoire in an international friendly at the 60,000-seater Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, conceding in the 21st minute to a goal from forward Rebecca Ello.

The Elephants had secured a 2–0 victory over Benin in their previous friendly, marking back-to-back wins in their preparations for the continental tournament.

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For Kenya, the result followed Monday’s 2–0 defeat to Benin, providing a stern test as Odemba’s squad fine-tuned their preparations.

“We are looking at the bigger picture. Preparation is everything, and modern football demands organisation, teamwork and belief,” Odemba said.

The coach highlighted the squad’s blend of youthful talent and experienced campaigners as a foundation for improvement.

“The goal is to build on our 2016 performance. With a mix of young talent and experience, we have a real chance to rewrite history,” she said.

With the West African tour concluded, the Starlets shifted focus to their final preparation phase in Miramas, France, where they will undergo a two-week high-performance residential camp until March 15.

The programme is designed to sharpen tactical organisation and match fitness ahead of the tournament in Morocco, scheduled from March 17 to April 3.

Kenya will open their AFCON campaign against hosts Morocco on March 17, face Senegal on March 20, and conclude Group B fixtures against Algeria on March 23.

The Starlets’ only previous appearance at the tournament came in 2016 in Cameroon, where they lost 3–1 to Ghana, 3–1 to Mali, and 4–0 to Nigeria, exiting without a win.

Odemba believes the lessons from the West African tour, combined with the upcoming camp, can help the team deliver a stronger showing and finally leave a mark on the continental stage.