Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba believes her team is capable of defeating Australia in the 2026 Fifa Series final, Nairobi group at Nyayo National Stadium.
The match will kick off at 5:30pm today. Earlier at the same venue, India will face Malawi at 3pm in a third place play-off.
“It’s a big game, I agree. I wouldn’t say toughest because I have never played against them before. We are happy to play against a tough opponent. I once said that to be a big team, you must play against a big team,” Odemba stated in a pre-match interview yesterday.
The Starlets reached the final after beating India 2-0 on Saturday, with goals from Martha Amunyolette and Tereza Engesha in the second and 56th minutes respectively.
Meanwhile, Australia, the host of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, dominated Malawi in a 5-0 thrashing at the same stadium.
Midfilder Emiyl Van Egmond was the first to score in the fifth minute, and just before the halftime whistle, team captain and Chelsea forward Sam Kerr capitalized added the second goal.
The second half saw forward Alex Chidiac add to the scoreline in the 60th minute, before substitute Holly McNamara joined the scoresheet, netting a goal in the 80th minute.
Finally, Leticia McKenna capped off the dominant performance with a goal in time added.
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
Reflecting on the inaugural tournament being held in Nairobi, Odemba said: “We are happy that it is happening and it will be lessons for us, a good moment for our players, the county, and for me as a coach to play against a world-class team. “They have been in the World Cup nine times, but we are making steps to get there.”
Defender Ruth Ingosi sustained an injury after a collision with India’s Xaxa Pyari and will be sidelined for two weeks.
Valerie Nekesa suffered a thigh injury, and her availability remains uncertain.
“Australia is just like any other team. Despite the big names they have and the fact that some of their players feature for top clubs, we also believe in ourselves. It will be a good match against experienced players competing in top leagues. Tomorrow, we will go out and fight, and we believe we can get a good result. Football is unpredictable, and anything can happen. At the pitch, we will give out our best,” said Jereko.
In the match against India, Odemba’s starting lineup had Lilian Awuor in goal; Vivian Nasaka, Leah Andiema, Elizabeth Ochaka, and captain Ingosi in defence; Jereko, Fasilah Adhiambo, and Martha Amunyolete in midfield; and Shaylne Opisa, Tereza Engesha, and Eglay Mukhwana in attack.
Odemba acknowledged the missed opportunities in the first half of the match against India and said she would to address this in training, potentially making changes to the starting lineup, particularly in the attack.
Australia’s coach, Joe Montemurro, stated that he was using the Fifa Series to prepare for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Harambee Starlets' Tereza Obunyu dribbles past India's Aslam Oraon during Fifa Series International friendly match at Nyayo National Stadium on April 11, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Australia are favoured to win. They are ranked 15th in the world by Fifa while Kenya are placed a distant 134th.
The Matildas boast an experienced squad led by Kerr, their all-time leading scorer.
Other key players to watch include 2016 Asian Football Conferedation (AFC) Women’s Footballer of the Year and 2025 Uefa Women’s Champions League with Arsenal Caitlin Foord, Remy Siemen and Emily Van Egmondo (Leicester City Women), Clare Wheeler (Everton), Winonah Heatley (AS Roma), Charlie Rule (Brighton), Kaitlyn Torpey (Newcastle United), and Hayley Raso (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany).
“The tournament has been good for us because we do not know more about the African team. We have come here with the most respect. We want to keep our standards really high. We are in a cycle of the World Cup, and we are preparing for it in this series,” said Montemurro.
