Doreen Nabwire/HANDOUT Former Harambee Starlets captain Doreen Nabwire has expressed confidence that Kenya can recover from their disappointing start to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and still reach the quarter-finals.
Nabwire spoke to Kenyan journalists in Salé, Morocco, after the Starlets suffered a 4-0 defeat to hosts Morocco in their Group A opener.
She insisted the result should not derail the team’s ambitions, urging the players to focus on their remaining matches against Senegal and Algeria.
The former skipper believes Kenya has the quality to win both fixtures and keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive.
“Morocco are one of Africa’s strongest teams because they have invested heavily in women’s football and are targeting the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Kenya also deserves to be here after qualifying on merit. The focus should now shift to Senegal and Algeria because we still have a chance to progress,” Nabwire said.
She urged the players to channel all their energy into the remaining Group A fixtures, stressing that the opening defeat should not overshadow the performances that earned Kenya qualification for the continental showpiece.
Now serving as a FIFA Women’s Football Development expert, Nabwire also challenged Kenyan football stakeholders to invest more in the women’s game if the country hopes to compete consistently with Africa’s leading nations.
According to the former striker, success at the international level depends on much more than talent, highlighting infrastructure, quality coaching and improved player welfare as essential pillars of a competitive national team.
“If we expect results, then everything around the players must also work. Good facilities, proper coaching and players’ welfare all contribute to better performances,” she said.
Drawing on her 15 years of experience with the Harambee Starlets, Nabwire said the current squad has the resilience to overcome the difficult start in Morocco and respond positively in their remaining group matches.
She also appealed to Kenyan fans to continue supporting the team despite the heavy defeat, noting that setbacks are part of football and can serve as valuable learning experiences.
Nabwire made history in 2009 as the first Kenyan woman to sign for a professional club in Europe after joining Werder Bremen in Germany.
She challenged the Starlets to learn from their mistakes, show character and fight for victories against Senegal and Algeria as they pursue a place in the WAFCON quarter-finals.
