Harambee starlets succumbed to a frustrating night at the Rabat Olympic Stadium in Morocco as Algeria snatched a decisive 2-0 victory in their final WAFCON 2026 Group A encounter securing the automatic knockout stage slot while ending Kenya’s tournament ambitions.
Facing a strict must-win scenario following consecutive group stage defeats to hosts Morocco (4-0) and Senegal (1-0), Kenya Head Coach Beldine Odemba aimed to address the squad’s finishing struggles highlighted in her pre-match remarks.
Odemba retained goalkeeper Lilian Awuor alongside skipper Mwanalima Jereko, while handing Valerie Nekesa a start in the frontline and deploying Martha Amunyolet in midfield in place of Lorna Nyarinda.
Algeria head coach Farid Benstiti,who cautioned before kickoff that Kenya remained a tough, unpredictable side despite history favoring the North Africans across four previous unbeaten encounters maintained his team.
Algeria were the first to knock on Harambee Starlets’ post when a heavy strike from Boutaleb was saved by Lilian Awuor in the 12th minute.
Two minutes later, Algeria broke the deadlock from a set piece as Marine Dafeur stepped up to curl a neat left-footed free-kick over the wall and into the back of the net.
Kenya responded with a swift move, a sharp 1-2 between captain Mwanalima Jereko and Valerie Nekesa ending with Nekesa teeing up Jereko, who struck just over the bar.
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Things went from bad to worse for Kenya in the 23rd minute when an attempt to dribble by center-back Elizabeth Ochaka proved catastrophic; Lynda Bendris stole the ball before looping it past Lilian Awuor to double Algeria’s advantage.
Kenya had a clear chance to halve the deficit shortly after when a cutback from Mercy Airo found Fasila Adhiambo, who laid it off to Martha Amunyolet, but her shot missed by inches.
Reacting quickly, Beldine Odemba made an unexpected double substitution, withdrawing goalkeeper Lilian Awuor for Annedy Kundu and introducing Marion Serenge for Mercy Airo.
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Kenya got another shot on target at the stroke of halftime when a lofted pass from Mwanalima found Fasila, who turned her defender inside out before teeing up Terry Engesha, whose shot was saved for a corner as the match proceeded to the interval with Algeria leading 2-0.
Hoping to spark a comeback after the restart, Kenya pushed forward in the second half. In the 63rd minute, the Harambee Starlets got a golden chance to halve the deficit when a through ball from Fasila Adhiambo found the unmarked Valerie Nekesa, but she hesitated in front of goal, allowing the Algerian defense to steal the ball away.
Algeria thought they had added a third in the 76th minute when captain Marine Dafeur tapped in from close range, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Kenya continued to push late on, but the match ultimately ended in a 2-0 defeat for the Starlets.
Kenya vs Algeria Lineups
Match Lineups
Kenya (Harambee Starlets): Lilian Awuor (GK), Euphraiser Shilwatso, Elizabeth Ochaka, Ruth Ingosi, Leah Andiema, Mercy Airo, Martha Amunyolet, Mwanalima Jereko (C), Valerie Nekesa, Terry Engesha, Fasila Adhiambo.
Algeria: Chloé N’Gazi (GK), Morgane Ikene, Lana Smits, Roselene Khezami, Inès Belloumou, Amira Ould Braham, Marine Dafeur (C), Lynda Bendris, Melissa Bethi, Lina Boussaha, Ikram Adjabi.