Premium
The Gambia name squad to face Harambee Starlets in final round of 2026 Wafcon qualifiers
Harambee Starlets players 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.
What you need to know:
- Kenya’s Harambee Starlets will host the second round, first leg match at Nyayo National Stadium.
- Ranked 124 in the world by Fifa, the West Africans are seeking their first Wafcon appearance.
The Gambia have named a 23-woman strong travelling squad for the final round of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers against Kenya on Friday.
Kenya’s Harambee Starlets will host the second round, first leg match at Nyayo National Stadium with the return match scheduled for four days later at Stade Lat Dior, Thies in Senegal. The Gambia lack stadiums that meet CAF minimum standards.
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.
The Gambia, coached Mariama Sowe, included five foreign-based players as follows -- midfielders Mariama Cham (AS Bambey FC, Senegal), Manyima Stevelmans (Riga FC, Latvia), Fatoumata Kanteh Cham (Sevilla FC, Spain), Ola Buwaro (Lokomotive Moskva, Russia), and attacker Mam Drammeh (AS Bambey FC, Senegal).
The team has been training at Old Yundum grounds in Banjul, Gambia, since August.
Ranked 124 in the world by Fifa, the West Africans are seeking their first Wafcon appearance after three failed attempts for the 2018, 2022, and 2024 finals.
In comparison, Harambee Starlets are ranked ranked 140th by Fifa and have played in one Afcon final, in 2016. The Kenyan girls started training camp two weeks ago at Kasarani.
From left: Harambee Starlets players Violet Nanjala, Faith Mboya and Tumaini Waliaula celebrate a goal against South Sudan in their Cecafa Senior Women's Championship match at Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam on June 19, 2025.
Starlets’ coach Beldine Odemba, who initially called up a provisional squad of 38 players, is yet to name his match squad. Two additional local players were called up after impressing in the Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League (FKF-WPL), bringing the number in camp to 40 players.
The two are Airine Madalina of Vihiga Queens and Ashley Shilwatso of Kayole Starlets, all strikers.
The aggregate winner will qualify for the African finals scheduled for March 17 to April 3 next year in Morocco.
Kenya edged Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate to reach this round, following a 0-0 draw in Nairobi and 1-0 win in Sousse via striker Tereza Engesha’s early goal.
The Gambia advanced more easily, defeating Niger 4-1 on aggregate with wins of 2-0 in Niamey and 2-1 in Senegal. This will be the first meeting between Kenya and The Gambia.
