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Starlets hit Gambia to put one foot in 2026 Women’s Afcon
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.
What you need to know:
- The Gambia will host the reverse fixture on Tuesday at Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal
- The aggregate winner of the two-leg tie will secure automatic slot in the 2026 Wafcon.
Harambee Starlets of Kenya on Friday defeated the Gambia 3-1 in the first leg of the final round of 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi to put one foot in the continental showpiece that will be played in Cameroon.
The Gambia will host the reverse fixture on Tuesday at Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal, as the west African nation does not have a stadium that meets Caf’s standards for international matches.
Friday’s victory puts Kenya just one match away from qualification for the continental showpiece. The aggregate winner will secure automatic slot in the championship.
Despite Kenya's early dominance, the home crowd was treated to a scare when Gambia's Fatoumata Kanyet Cham, who plays for Sevilla Women FC in Spain, scored the first goal of the match in the fourth minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Ilavonga who had failed to clear the ball from the box.
Kenya responded quickly, with Mwanahalima Adam converting a penalty in the 10th minute after Martha Amnyolete was fouled in the box.
Fasila Adhiambo then put Kenya ahead in the 19th minute with a powerful shot. Shalyen Opisa had a goal disallowed for offside, but she eventually scored Kenya's third goal in added time of the first half.
Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba's line-up for the match featured Lilian Awuor in goal, protected by debutants Lorine Ilavonga and Elizabeth Muteshi, and captain Ruth Ingosi.
Enez Mango, Mwanahalima Adam, Lavender Akinyi, and Martha Amnyolete controlled the midfield, while Elizabeth Wambui, Shalyen Opisa, and Fasila Adhiambo led the attack.
Kenya’s second-half substitutions, including Tumaini Waliaula, who came in for Wambui, did not make a significant impact on the game, with both sides struggling to create clear scoring opportunities.
The Gambia's goalkeeper Aminata Gaye was substituted due to an injury. In the second half, the Gambia's first assistant coach, who was standing in for Mariama Sowe, made a triple substitution, replacing Bintou Ceesay, Mariama Cham, and Isatou Jallow with Wuday Colley, Kaddy Bayo, and Sarah Jarju, respectively.
However, the changes did not improve the team's performance as both sides struggled to create scoring opportunities in the second half.
