Kenya’s Harambee Starlets begin their campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) with a Group ‘A’ match against home team Morocco on Sunday night from 11pm (Kenyan time) at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
The stakes are high for competing teams since the tournament also serves as Africa’s final qualifier event for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup which will be staged from June 24 to July 25, 2027 in Brazil. All the four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup, while two more teams will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Kenya head to Sunday’s match against the hosts as the underdogs. Coach Beldine Odemba’s side are ranked 124th in the latest Fifa Women’s World Rankings, making them the lowest ranked team in Group A, with hosts Morocco placed 64th, Algeria 74th and Senegal 81st.
Harambee Starlets' Shirleen Opisa (left) dribbles past Valerie Nekesa during the women's national team training session at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on July 6, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Starlets are making their second appearance at the continental showpiece after their historic debut in Cameroon in 2016, where they exited at the group stage following defeats to Ghana (3-1), Mali (3-1) and eventual champions Nigeria (4-0).
Morocco, meanwhile, are among the tournament favourites. The Atlas Lionesses reached the final of the last edition on home soil before losing 2-1 to Nigeria and will once again look to home support as they chase a first continental title.
The two sides have met only once at senior level, with Morocco registering a convincing 5-1 victory in an international friendly on home soil last year. Midfielder Fasilah Adhiambo scored Kenya’s consolation goal in the 20th minute. At Under-23 level, however, Kenya have enjoyed better fortunes, recording one win and one draw in two friendly meetings.
Coached by Spaniard Jorge Vilda, who guided Spain to the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup title, Morocco have developed into one of Africa’s leading women’s football nations. Their preparations have been impressive, with friendly victories over Cape Verde (5-0 and 1-0), Malawi (4-2) and Tanzania (4-0). Morocco head to the match buoyed by an emphatic 5-0 victory over Cape Verde in an international friendly match played in Morocco.
Ibtissam Raidi opened the scoring in the 21st minute before Sanaa Mssoudy struck a hat-trick with goals in the 37th, 60th and 64th minutes. Yasmin Mrabet wrapped up the rout with an 85th-minute strike.
The hosts boast a squad dominated by players plying their trade in Europe’s top leagues, particularly in France, Spain and England, while several others feature for Moroccan giants AS FAR.
On the other hand, Kenya arrived in Morocco after a week-long training camp in France before travelling to Rabat on Thursday. Nation Sport understands Starlets had planned to play a series of friendly matches against French top clubs Lyon and Marseille during the camp, but the fixtures did not materialise.
Kenya’s last competitive outing came at the Four Nations Tournament in Zambia in June, where they finished third after thrashing Lesotho 5-0 in the third-place play-off. The Starlets had earlier drawn 1-1 with hosts Zambia in the semi-final before losing 4-1 in the ensuing penalty shoot-out.
That performance followed their runners-up finish at the 2026 Fifa Series in Nairobi in April, where they beat India 2-0 before falling 2-0 to Australia in the final.
A place in the Wafcon semi-finals would secure Kenya a historic first-ever qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, adding even greater significance to the tournament.
Harambee Starlets' Eglay Mukhwana (left) tussles for the ball with Euphraisier Shilwatso during the women's national team training session at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on July 6, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
For Kenya, goalkeeper Lilian Awuor will be central to the Starlets’ hopes of causing an upset. The Farul Constanța shot-stopper was instrumental during the qualifiers, most notably saving two penalties against Tunisia to help Kenya secure their first Wafcon appearance in a decade.
The 27-year-old has continued to flourish in Romania, helping Farul Constanța win back-to-back league titles. Her experience, composure and shot-stopping ability will be crucial if Kenya are to frustrate the hosts and keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
Awuor, defender Enez Mango, and Adam were instrumental in Kenya’s qualification for the 2016 Wafcon. However, Awuor did not play in the tournament despite traveling with the team, Mango missed it due to personal commitments, and Adam was unavailable as she was preparing for her KCSE examinations.
Odemba is expected to retain much of the side that faced Zambia, with only two changes likely in goal and defence. Awuor is set to return to the starting lineup after missing the Zambia clash and will take over from Annedy Kundu, while defender Mango is also expected to start in place of Leah Andiema.
The pair were unavailable for the previous match as they finalized work permit arrangements with their Romanian club, Farul Constanța.
In midfield, experienced Corazone Aquino has been left out of the squad, leaving captain Mwanahalima Adam to marshal the team alongside Martha Amunyolette. Eglay Mukwahana and Fasila Adhiambo are expected to provide width on the flanks.
With Jentrix Shikangwa unavailable, Teresa Engesha is likely to spearhead the attack alongside Airin Madalina.
Morocco’s captain Ghizlane Chebbak will once again spearhead the hosts’ title ambitions. The 35-year-old, crowned the 2025 Caf Women’s Player of the Year, finished as the tournament’s top scorer at the last edition with five goals after also sharing the Golden Boot in 2022.
Chebbak scored in Morocco’s defeat to Nigeria in the previous final and will be determined to inspire the Atlas Lionesses to a historic first Wafcon crown. Renowned for her vision, creativity, leadership and dead-ball expertise, she remains one of Africa’s most influential footballers.
Her father, Larbi Chebbak, was part of the Morocco men’s team that won the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations, and she now hopes to emulate that achievement by lifting the women’s continental title.
