- The Harambee Starlets versus Tunisia clash will be staged at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
- The match is planned to kick off at 3 PM East African Time (EAT).
- Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has requested Kenyans to travel to the Stadium and support the team.
Harambee Starlets are set to host Tunisia in a crucial 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) first-leg qualifier match on Friday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex domiciled along Lang’ata Road.
The team will be seeking to secure all the three points and increase their chances of proceeding to the next round of the qualifiers.
However, that will not be a walk in the park since they will come up against a talented Tunisian side that sits at position 78th in the FIFA rankings.
Vivian Nasaka’s absence
Harambee Starlets, who occupy position 149 in the global rankings, go into the eagerly anticipated match without one of their dependable stars in Vivian Nasaka.
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The experienced right-back who plays professional football in Turkey with Hakkarigücü has been ruled out of the clash due to an injury.
Nonetheless, head coach Beldine Odemba believes that the team has enough quality players who can fill the void left by Nasaka.
“It is a big miss for us. Vivian has not missed a single match, especially qualifiers for the last few years. She has always been there. She is very crucial. It is a big miss for us but we thank God we have an equal replacement. The girl who will play there is also up to the task,” she explained.
Odemba issues a rallying call to fans
Odemba also took the opportunity to urge Kenyans to fill the refurbished Ulinzi Sports Complex to capacity and support the girls.
“We will keep on calling on our fans because we count on them. It is a good thing that when we are playing at home they are always here. Even when we are playing away you can feel their presence, they are talking about the match, and they want to watch the match. I am glad that yesterday PS for sports engineer Tum said that the away match is also going to be shown.
So, it is a good thing for us that our fans will see the match home and away. We call upon them to come to the Ulinzi Complex tomorrow and cheer for the girls. We need them. They always give us a good push,” stated Odemba.
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On her part, Harambee Starlets captain Dorcas Shikobe was optimistic that the team will post an excellent performance.
“This game will not be difficult and at the same time easy. We will approach it like the other games because qualification is very hard. Our motivation is to qualify and that is what we are here to do.
We have prepared well as a team. The mood is positive. Everyone, including the youngest, are ready to fight,” offered Shikobe.
Shikobe is one of the most capped Harambee Starlets players in history alongside the likes of United States’ based Mwanalima Jereko Adams and Simba Queen’s Vivian Corazon Aquino.
Tunisia’s head coach acknowledges Harambee Starlets’ threat
Meanwhile, Tunisia’s manager Kamel Saada acknowledged that Kenya will give them a hard time.
“We hope to have a good match against Kenya. We will have a rough time here in Kenya and also in Tunisia. We must be good,” commented Saada.
A win for Kenya on Friday will help them travel to Tunisia for the second leg with confidence. The return leg is scheduled to be played on Wednesday, February 26.
Should Kenya overcome Tunisia, they will face the winner between Gambia and Niger in the final qualification round in October, 2025.