Starlets captain Mwanalima Adam becomes third Kenyan to play in Uefa Women’s Champions League
Kenya's Mwanalima Adam celebrates a goal against Gambia in the 2025 Women's Afcon qualifying match at Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal on October 28, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Mwanalima Adam can look forward to at least five more matches under the new format of the Champions League.
- HB Køge had to overcome Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven three weeks ago to reach the new 18-team league phase.
Harambee Starlets captain Mwanalima “Dogo” Adam has entered the history books as the third Kenyan to play in the main phase of the Uefa Women's Champions League.
The 29-year-old achieved the feat on Tuesday night after featuring for Danish champions HB Køge in their league-phase opener against Arsenal at Meadow Park.
It was a big night for the Kenyan international as she made her Champions League debut against one of the most decorated clubs in women's football.
The Kenya international saw 80 minutes of play time before being withdrawn, as Køge held on until the 93rd minute when they fell to a penalty in a 1-0 loss.
The Danish side arrived in Borehamwood as clear underdogs against a team that has won in Europe twice and is packed with internationals. They set up to defend deep, stay compact and frustrate the hosts, and they executed it with discipline.
Arsenal dominated possession and territory, circulating the ball around Køge's box, but clear chances were rare. When the hosts did find the net in the second half, celebrations were cut short after the Video Assistant Referee flagged an offside in the build-up and the goal was disallowed.
That defensive resilience had Adam at its heart. Deployed on the flank, she was tasked with dealing with Arsenal's pace out wide and tracking overlapping runs, while also helping to double up on the ball carrier whenever Arsenal tried to overload the wings. For a player whose natural game is built on work rate, stamina and tactical discipline, it was a role that suited her.
With five minutes of normal time left and Køge still level, the coaching staff made a change. Jereko was substituted in the 80th minute as Køge introduced fresh legs to see out the closing stages. At that point, a point against Arsenal looked on.
Then came the late twist. In the third minute of stoppage time, Arsenal forward Selina Cerci was brought down inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Spanish international Mariona Caldentey stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Arsenal the narrow win.
Harambee Starlets players celebrate a goal against the Gambia in a first leg match of the final round of 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Nyayo National Stadium on October 24, 2025.
The result was harsh on Køge, but for Adam, the night was a personal triumph.
Before Tuesday, only two Kenyans had featured at this stage of Europe's premier women's club competition.
Marjolen Nekesa became the first in 2023 when she turned out for Czech side Slavia Prague in the group stage.
She was later joined by Esse Akida, another trailblazer for the Harambee Starlets who also featured in the group phase for Greek side FC Poak.
Adam’s place in Køge's European campaign has not been accidental. She has been part of the team's journey from the early qualifying rounds. In three appearances during qualifiers, she scored once.
HB Køge had to overcome Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven three weeks ago to reach the new 18-team league phase that replaced the old group stage format this season. Køge won the first leg 1-0 in Eindhoven, one of the best results in the club's history before holding PSV to a 1-1 draw in the return leg at home to advance 2-1 on aggregate.
Adam can look forward to at least five more matches under the new format of the Champions League.
Køge's next fixture is at home to defending champions Barcelona on October 29. They will also face Portuguese champions Benfica, French side Paris FC, Swiss side Servette and Belgian champions OH Leuven.
For Adam, who has captained Kenya for several years and has been a mainstay of the national team for over a decade, these games offer invaluable exposure at the highest level.
Comfortable as both a full-back and a winger, she brings versatility and leadership, qualities that have kept her in the national team set-up through different coaching regimes.
Her journey from Kwale, where she first played on dusty school pitches, to starting against Arsenal in the Champions League, reflects the longer route many Kenyan women footballers have to take, leaving home to find professional leagues, then using that platform to return and lead the national team.
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