Harambee Starlets Eliminated from WAFCON 2026 After Tough Group Stage Campaign

Harambee Starlets Bow Out of WAFCON 2026

Kenya's Harambee Starlets have been eliminated from the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after failing to progress from a challenging Group A in Morocco. The Starlets, making their first appearance at the continental showpiece since 2016, found themselves in one of the tournament's toughest groups alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal, and Algeria.

The Kenyan side entered the tournament with high hopes following an impressive qualification campaign that ended a decade-long wait for a return to Africa's biggest women's football competition. However, the step up in quality proved difficult against some of Africa's strongest teams.

Heavy Defeat to Morocco Proved Costly

The Starlets suffered a heavy opening defeat to tournament hosts Morocco, leaving them with an uphill battle in the race for the quarter-finals. Head coach Beldine Odemba remained optimistic after the 4-0 loss, insisting that her side still had a chance to qualify despite the disappointing result.

Kenya needed positive results in their remaining group fixtures against Senegal and Algeria but were unable to win their second group match losing 1-0 to Senegal. This essentially confirmed their elimination before the knockout stage. They will need to defeat Algeria by at least 3 goals and hope that Morocco beats Senegal.

Valuable Experience for the Future

Although the campaign may end in disappointment, Kenya's return to WAFCON marks an important milestone for women's football in the country. The Harambee Starlets demonstrated resilience throughout qualification and gained valuable experience competing against some of the continent's elite nations.

Coach Odemba and her squad are expected to use the lessons learned in Morocco as they begin preparations for upcoming international competitions, including future WAFCON qualifiers and FIFA Women's World Cup qualification campaigns.

With a blend of experienced players and emerging young talent, Kenya will hope this tournament serves as a foundation for greater success on the continental stage.