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- The Harambee Starlets vs Gambia W first leg final round of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will be played on Friday evening.
- Kickoff is at 4.00PM EAT.
The women’s national football team, the Harambee Starlets, will be hoping to repeat their 2016 success and secure a return to the continental stage when they host The Gambia in the first leg of the final round of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday.
Coach Beldine Odemba’s squad is chasing its second-ever appearance at the WAFCON tournament following their maiden achievement nine years ago when they qualified for the 2016 edition in Yaounde, Cameroon.
ALSO READ: Harambee Starlets duo Ingosi and Nanjala rally fans ahead of crucial Gambia clash
Back then, under the guidance of head coach David Ouma, their journey began with a walkover after DR Congo withdrew due to financial constraints.
In the final round, they faced Algeria and clinched their historic qualification on the away goals rule. A 2-2 draw in Algeria was followed by a 1-1 stalemate in Nairobi, sending them through with a 3-3 aggregate score.
Now, Odemba’s team is just 180 minutes away from a repeat of that feat, but they face a formidable opponent in The Gambia, who are seeking their maiden ticket to the continental showpiece that will feature 16 teams in Morocco next year.
Kenya secured their place in the final round by edging Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate, while The Gambia advanced after a decisive 4-1 aggregate victory over Niger.
In that tie, goals from Fatou Sonko and Fatou Kanteh secured a 2-0 home win, which was followed by a 2-1 away victory, with Mbassey Darboe and Kanteh again on the scoresheet.
Here are the key details for the Harambee Starlets vs The Gambia Queens Scorpions WAFCON 2026 qualifier.
What time does the Harambee Starlets vs The Gambia W match kick off?
Kenya will host the first leg of this final round at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, October 24. The kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM EAT.
How and where to get the Kenya W vs The Gambia W tickets?
Fans across Kenya can purchase tickets to support the Harambee Starlets. The team needs a strong home advantage, and your vibrant cheers can act as the crucial 12th man.
Tickets are priced at 100 KSH for regular stands, while VIP access is available for 500 KSH.
The gate passes are available online at tikiti.com. Alternatively, you can use the USSD number *519*55# to get your ticket.
Harambee Starlets vs The Gambia Team News
Coach Odemba is yet to name her final squad. However, 38 players have been in camp for about three weeks honing their skills.
Simba Queens defender Ruth Ingosi believes the team has done everything necessary to secure a first-leg win.
“The morale in camp is high; everyone is putting in the effort because we really need the win at home. The team is ready, and I urge fans to show up just like they did during CHAN for the boys. We hope for a win at home, and then we will finish the job away,” she said.
Vilote Nanjala echoed this sentiment, assuring Kenyans that the team will not let them down.
“It won’t be an easy match, but with the work we’ve put in, we will be up to the task. Everyone is ready. On Friday, we won’t fail the fans. Let them come in good numbers; with their support, we will get the much-needed win.”
Odemba is expected to name her final squad soon, a team comprising the players deemed ready to seize the initiative in the first leg.
Meanwhile, The Gambia’s head coach, Mariama Bom Sowe, has already named her 23-player squad, which is set to jet into the country for the encounter.
ALSO READ: Gambia names final squad for WAFCON qualifiers vs Harambee Starlets
The squad is primarily composed of locally based players who have been in intermittent training since early August.
Due to financial issues, only four foreign-based professionals will feature: Manyima Stevelmans (Riga FC, Latvia), Ola Buwaro (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Penda Bah (Viimsi JK, Estonia), and Fatoumata Kanteh (Sevilla FC, Spain).
The biggest threat to the Harambee Starlets is expected to be Fatoumata Kanteh. The Spain-based sharpshooter notably scored in both legs of the previous qualifying round against Niger
Harambee Starlets vs Gambia W H2H and current form
This will be the first official meeting between these two teams, and each will be seeking to establish their dominance while pursuing a place in the continental showpiece.
Kenya W Current Form
- WAFCON Qualifiers vs. Tunisia: D, W
- Recent matches (CECAFA Women’s Championship): W, W, W, L (lost 1-0 to Tanzania in the finals)
The Gambia W Current Form
- WAFCON Qualifiers vs. Niger: W, W
- Recent matches (Women’s International Friendlies): W, L, L
What’s at stake for both teams?
The winner of the two-legged tie will qualify for the 15th edition of the WAFCON in Morocco.
In the event of a draw on aggregate, the team with superior away goals will advance.
Harambee Starlets vs Gambia W Prediction
Kenya is the favorite to win the first leg, bolstered by home advantage, which they will need to capitalize on fully.
The Gambia has travelled with a squad largely from domestic clubs, which could give Kenya’s more experienced side an upper hand.
However, Odemba’s charges have nothing to be complacent about and cannot afford to underestimate the visitors, who remain a strong side despite the absence of some key players.
This promises to be a match filled with fireworks, and fans should expect goals from both sides.