• FOOTBALL

• Frank Rotich 4 days ago

Harambee Starlets coach Odemba eyes friendly against African champions Banyana Banyana

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has revealed plans to line up a high-stakes friendly match against Africa champions South Africa as part of Kenya’s preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

‎Speaking ahead of the final international window before the continental showpiece, Odemba said the technical bench is keen to test the Starlets against strong opposition, with Banyana Banyana topping the list of preferred opponents.

‎“We have one more calendar match before we play in the WAFCON. We have already made our request, and we want to play against South Africa,” Odemba said. “We also have two more teams that we are talking to.”

‎The Starlets coach added that she has asked the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to host South Africa in Kenya, noting that playing at home is key to building a strong connection with local fans.

“We have requested FKF to bring South Africa here because we are excited to play at home. We want to build a fanbase so that people can see us and identify with us, not only during major tournaments,” she said.

‎Odemba further said Kenya is considering hosting a Four-Nation Tournament as part of the build-up to WAFCON, although that will depend on the official tournament draw.

‎“We want to play strong teams, and South Africa is first on my list. We have proposed a Four-Nation Tournament with us hosting, if possible,” she said. “However, this will also depend on how the pools look because if we are in the same group, it may not be ideal for either team to face each other before the tournament.”

Harambee Starlets booked their place at WAFCON 2026 after a convincing 4-1 aggregate victory over Gambia, marking their return to the continental stage for the first time in a decade.

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026, with Kenya now shifting focus to solid preparations as they aim to make a strong impression on their long-awaited return.