- Harambee Starlets will host Tunisia in the first leg of their 2026 WAFCON qualifier match on Friday, February 21.
- The match will take place at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
- Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has included several new faces in her provisional squad.
The Kenya national women’s football team famously known as the Harambee Starlets is set to face Tunisia in a two-legged 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier later this month.
Harambee Starlets will host the North Africans in Nairobi in the first leg that is scheduled to be played on Friday, February 21 before traveling to Tunisia for the return fixture.
According to a communique issued by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) the upcoming match will take place at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, a recently renovated stadium located along Langata Road.
“Ulinzi Sports Complex will be the venue for Harambee Starlets’ 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier home match against Tunisia on Friday, February 21, 2025.
The second leg will be played away in Tunis, Tunisia, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025,” read part of the statement.
Play here and stand a chance of winning the over Ksh 402 million SportPesa Mega Jackpot
Kenya will be seeking to destroy their opponents in the home fixture to increase their chances of proceeding to the next round.
The team that is coached by Beldine Odemba has already started the preparations for the game.
However, according to Odemba, some of the players are yet to report to the camp that is based in Kasarani.
“In camp, we already have 21 players, I am expecting 26 players by the next session. But I am glad that 21 have made it and five are still on their way coming and tomorrow we shall have 26. The remaining 10 will come after the FIFA window,” she revealed.
First call up for Faith Mboya
Some of the big names that are already in camp include the trio of Elizabeth Wambui, Corazone Aquino and Jentrix Shikangwa, who all play for Tanzanian heavyweights Simba Queens.
Others include the Kenya Police Bullets FC star Emily Morang’a and the fast-rising attacker Faith Mboya, who has netted more than 20 goals since the start of the season.
Mboya, who recently joined Kibera Soccer Girls from Sunderland Samba, has scored seven goals in two matches for the Football Kenya Federation Women National Super League (FKFWNSL) club.
Mboya started her Kibera Soccer Girls career with an impressive hat-trick, something that has put her into the limelight.
ALSO READ: Harambee Starlets strikers dominate foreign leagues
Odemba believes that the talented player, who has an eye for the goal, will play an influential role in Harambee Starlet’s squad in the near future.
“Faith is a scorer. She is a go-getter and a fighter in front of goal and we need qualities like that to enable us to get the goals and push the strikers we have always had in the camp,” she commented.
Mboya is expected to fight for the striker position with experienced players such as Shikangwa and Violet Nanjala.
Opportunity for youngsters
The coach, who led Kenya Police Bullets FC to the Football Kenya Federation Women Premier League (FKFWPL) title last season, also explained her decision to include more youngsters in her provisional squad.
“The youth are the future of football. Bringing them into the senior team helps build a conveyor belt of talent.
A great example is former Junior Starlets captain Elizabeth Ochaka, who has already played at the highest level, the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, leading her team to Kenya’s first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance,” offered Odemba.
She ended by stating that Harambee Starlets will need to secure a win in the first leg since Tunisia will make it difficult for them in the second leg fixture.
ALSO READ: Otieno reveals how departing Gor Mahia at the end of the season will affect him