Harambee Starlets defender, Ruth Ingosi, has urged fans to support the team as they head to the key first leg fixture of 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Gambia on Friday from 4pm at Nyayo National Stadium.
The return fixture will be played on Tuesday, October 28, at the Stade Lat Dior in Thiès, Senegal. Gambia is hosting the match in Thiès because its stadiums do not meet CAF standards.
The stakes are high, as the team with the higher aggregate score will qualify for the finals scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3 next year in Morocco.
Cognisant of the fact that the team is just two matches away from qualifying for the continental championships, Ingosi, who plays for Simba Queens in the Tanzanian Women’s Premier League, said: “I urge fans to support us the same way they support Harambee Stars. We hope to win both home and away.”
Striker Violet Nanjala, who plays for United Eagles FC in Saudi Arabia, shared similar sentiments.
“With support from fans, we will win. God is with us. The team has been preparing well,” she observed. Nanjala joined United Eagles on a one-year deal from Municipal de Laayoune of Morocco.
Harambee Starlets midfielders Dianah Wacera (left) and Violet Nanjala celebrate after scoring a goal against Uganda during the 2025 Cecafa Senior Women's Championship campaign at Azam Sports Complex in Chamazi, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on June 17, 2025.
Photo credit: FKF
Coached by Beldien Odemba, the provisional squad of 40 players has been training at the Kasarani Stadium for three weeks. As of yesterday, all the players had reported to camp.
Ingosi, formerly of the Eldoret Falcons, Lakatamia FC (Cyprus), and Athlitiki Enosi Lemesou (Greece), believes that they have what it takes to beat Gambia at home.
“We have been training for over three weeks, and I believe in what we have been doing in those training sessions. We are psyched up and pushing ourselves to win at home,” she said.
Nanjala hopes Kenya will make their second appearance in the tournament in a decade. “We are finalising our preparations. We are ready and waiting for them. This will be an opportunity for some of us to play in WAFCON. “Friday’s match won’t be easy, but we are determined.”
The Gambian team, nicknamed “Scorpions”, is expected in Nairobi today or tomorrow.
Last Sunday, their head coach, Mariama Sowe, named a squad of 23 players for the match against Kenya. The team has been training at the Serekunda East Mini Stadium in Gambia since August.
Harambee Starlets' Mwanahalima Adams during their Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification match at Ulinzi Sports Complex on February 21, 2025
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
The West Africans are looking forward to qualifying for Wafcon for the first time after failing to qualify in 2018, 2022, and 2024. Their final squad includes five players based abroad. Midfielders Mariama Cham (AS Bambey FC, Senegal), Manyima Stevelmans (Riga FC, Latvia), and Fatoumata Kanteh Cham (Sevilla FC, Spain); defender Ola Buwaro (Lokomotive Moskva, Russia); and forward Mam Drammeh (AS Bambey FC, Senegal).
To reach this stage, the Starlets beat Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate in February, with a 0-0 draw in Nairobi and a 1-0 win in Sousse, thanks to an early goal by striker Tereza Engesha.
Gambia advanced after defeating Niger 4-1 on aggregate, winning 2-0 in Niamey and 2-1 in Senegal. Matchday tickets are priced at 100 shillings for general admission and 500 shillings for VIP.
