Harambee Starlets did not win the 2026 Fifa Women’s Series but there was happiness all round at the Nyayo National Stadium on the night of April 15, 2026.
The first ever Fifa tournament hosted on Kenyan soil ended with excited kids colonising the pitch, some running around and others bathing themselves in confetti and collecting heaps of shiny streamers.
With fireworks creating colourful noise and jets of flares and smoke launching to the sky behind them, the confetti and shiny streamers had showered on Australia’s Matildas, who had defeated a brave Harambee Starlets 2-0 to win the final of the four-team international friendly football tournament.
Earlier at the same venue, India’s Blue Tigresses clinched third-place after winning 3-2 against the Scorchers of Malawi, who dominated the encounter but were severely punished for their profligacy.
Harambee Starlets and Matildas had reached the final after defeating India’s Blue Tigresses 2-0, and the Scorchers of Malawi 5-0 in matches that were played on April 11 at Nyayo National Stadium respectively.
Matildas swept everything on the table. Sam Kerr, who plays for Chelsea Women, was the tournament’s top scorer with two goals, the second of which was her 75th goal for her country. Her teammate, Amy Sayer, who is a human biology and philosophy graduate currently studying for her master’s in bio ethics, was named the best player of the tournament.
Throughout the tournament, the coaches and players of the four teams praised the Fifa Series as a good initiative that creates opportunities for women’s national teams to test themselves against teams from other confederations. “Without the Fifa Series, matches like this can only happen at the World Cup,” they all alluded with their remarks.
It is no wonder that Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba called the Fifa Series “a mini World Cup”.
Australia National Team Captain Kennedy Alanna leads teammates in celebration with the winners Trophy during Fifa Series International friendly match on April 15, 2026 played at Nyayo National Stadium.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
At the press conference that preceded Starlets’ 2-0 win over India, Odemba said that Starlets are using the Fifa Series to prepare for the 2026 Women’s African Cup of Nations (Wafcon) which will take place in Morocco from July 26 to August 16.
“The girls gave their best against a good team. We got numerous chances and now we know that we have to work on conversion. As a coach, we are confident that we will perform well at Wafcon. This tournament has enabled us to see where we are and what we need to work on. I am really proud of the girls,” Odemba said after the 2-0 loss to Australia.
In terms of confidence, Starlets proved during the Fifa Series that they have it in plenty.
Valerie Nekesa, speaking after the win over India, said, “Australia have two legs just like us and we too can play one-touch football.”
“Our confidence is good. We do not deal with names. We showed there is little difference between us and Australia. I am proud of my team,” Starlets captain Mwanalima “Dogo” Adam, who was a metronome in Kenya’s midfield, said after the match against the Matildas.
Should Starlets improve on chance conversion in time for Wafcon 2026, they stand a high chance of qualifying for the first 32-team Fifa Women’s World Cup which will take place in Brazil next year. Starlets can automatically qualify for the global football showpiece if they reach the semifinals at Wafcon 2026. Defeat in the quarterfinals will send them to play-in matches where they will place for a chance to feature in the inter-confederation play-offs.
Qualifying for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup may materialise in another match against the Matildas, who qualified for the tournament in March after reaching the final of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asia Cup where they lost 1-0 to Japan.
Speaking about his team’s experience in Kenya, Matildas’ coach Joe Montemurro had described it as one of “learning and understanding new football cultures and testing themselves in different conditions.”
Montemurro also urged Kenyans to show up in large numbers for the finals, saying he would not mind if the atmosphere is hostile because his team can learn how to cope with that.
Harambee Starlets’ Vivian Nasaka (left) dribbles past Australia’s Caitlin Foord during a Fifa Series international friendly at Nyayo National Stadium on April 15, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Instead, the atmosphere at Nyayo National Stadium on April 15, 2026 was far from hostile and if anything, it was close to a carnival. Australians, led by their High Commissioner to Kenya Jenny Da Rin, showed up in their numbers carrying big yellow inflated kangaroos, one of the national symbols of the Pacific Ocean nation.
After the match, popular Matildas players like Chelsea’s Kerr and Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord interacted with Kenyan fans. They signed autographs on jerseys and placards thrown at them. Foord left the pitch lighter after giving away her jersey to a fan.
The Fifa Series was dominated with conversations about how it is playing a role in elevating women’s football.
“Every opportunity where women’s football is on is a great opportunity and hopefully this will raise the women’s game in Africa. Women footballers in Africa should also get opportunities to play more matches like we do,” Kerr said.
In related comments, India’s coach Crispin Chettri and his Malawi counterpart Lovemore Fazili also urged the organisers to consider making future editions of Fifa Series round-robin tournaments so that all teams play against each other.
Responding to those calls, former Switzerland international Gelson Fernandes, who is the Fifa Deputy Chief of Member Associations and the Fifa Director for Africa said it is something that Fifa can consider.
Fernandes, and other Fifa officials as well as several federation presidents from the Cecafa and Cosafa region, spent this week in Kenya and graced Wednesday’s final.
Harambee Starlets celebrate their goal against India during Fifa Series international friendly at Nyayo National Stadium on April 11, 2026
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Their presence signified the strengthening of the relationship between FKF and Fifa. Apart from involvement in organising the Fifa Series, FKF and Fifa held consultative meetings in Nairobi on the Fifa Forward Programme 4.0 in Nairobi on Tuesday. On the same day at the Talanta Sports City, Fifa and FKF launched the Kenya phase of the Fifa Boots for All initiative and on Wednesday morning, Fernandes’ delegation held a meeting with Sports CS Salim Mvurya.
At the Nyayo National Stadium Fifa’s presence was ever visible as their branding had turned the match venue to a Cerulean cauldron.
Beyond the activities on the football pitch, the three visiting teams left Kenya with memories of their visit to the Nairobi National Park. They all defined it as a “great experience”.
