Kenya’s dream of making history at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) came to a disappointing end after the Harambee Starlets suffered a 2-0 defeat to Algeria in their final Group A match, finishing the tournament without a single point or goal.
The defeat capped off a frustrating campaign for coach Beldine Odemba’s side, who returned to the continental tournament for the first time since 2016 hoping to prove they could compete with Africa’s best.
Instead, they left Morocco rooted at the bottom of their group after three straight defeats.
Algeria wasted little time asserting their dominance, punishing Kenya with two early goals that effectively settled the contest before the Starlets could find their rhythm.
Marine Dafeur opened the scoring from an indirect free-kick before defensive lapses allowed Algeria to double their advantage just minutes later.
Despite making several substitutions in the second half and creating a handful of promising chances, Kenya once again struggled in the final third.
Valerie Nekesa came closest to ending the team’s goal drought but hesitated in front of goal, allowing Algerian defenders to recover.
The result meant Kenya completed the tournament with a 4-0 loss to hosts Morocco, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Senegal, and the 2-0 loss against Algeria.
They conceded seven goals and failed to score in all three matches.
A campaign full of lessons
While the results were disappointing, the tournament exposed the huge gap between Kenya and Africa’s elite women’s football nations.
Coach Beldine Odemba had remained optimistic throughout the tournament, insisting the team was gaining valuable experience despite the setbacks.
However, the Starlets struggled with defensive errors, poor finishing and a lack of composure in crucial moments.
Following the team’s elimination, forward Violet Nanjala admitted Kenya still has a long way to go if it hopes to challenge the continent’s top sides.
“We need to work hard because if you compare our game with that of Senegal, Morocco and Algeria, we are too far behind,” she said, calling for more investment, quality international friendlies and consistent support for women’s football in Kenya.
Investment gap exposed
The tournament highlighted the stark contrast between Kenya and countries like Morocco, who have heavily invested in women’s football over the past few years.
Morocco’s improved infrastructure, professional league and regular international competition have transformed the Atlas Lionesses into one of Africa’s strongest teams.
Football analysts believe Kenya must now focus on strengthening its Women’s Premier League, improving youth development structures and ensuring the national team plays more competitive international matches instead of assembling squads only before major tournaments.
Eyes now on the future
Although the Starlets’ WAFCON journey ended in disappointment, the experience could serve as a stepping stone for a relatively young squad.
Several players made their debut at Africa’s biggest women’s football tournament and will be expected to play a key role in future qualification campaigns.
The Football Kenya Federation is now expected to review the team’s performance as attention shifts towards upcoming regional competitions and the qualifiers for future continental tournaments.
For now, however, the 2026 WAFCON campaign will be remembered as one Kenya will want to forget, a tournament that ended with three defeats, seven goals conceded and not a single goal scored, underlining the work that still lies ahead if the Harambee Starlets are to become genuine contenders on the African stage.
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