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Harambee Starlets, are gearing up for a crucial two-legged qualification round against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses for the 2024 Africa Women Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The showdown commences with the first leg in Cameroon on Friday, September 22, 2023, followed by the return leg at home on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

Harambee Starlets possible opponent

The team emerging as the aggregate winner of this two-legged qualifier will advance to face either Gabon or Botswana in the second round.

Success in the second round secures an automatic spot in the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco.

If Harambee Starlets progress to the second round, the matches are slated to occur between November 27 and December 5, 2023.

These qualifiers mark an important milestone as Harambee Starlets make their return to CAF Competitions following Kenya’s prolonged suspension from football by FIFA.

Harambee Starlets are expected to assemble for camp on Sunday, September 10, 2023, in preparation for these crucial matches.

Changes for Harambee Starlets feeder leagues

Starlets return to action comes days after Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has introduced significant changes to the structure of women’s leagues.

A notable development is the establishment of the FKF Women National Super League, a second-tier women’s league. This league will be divided into two zones, Zone A and Zone B.

Teams participating in the FKF Women National Super League have been selected from those relegated from the 2022/23 FKF Women Premier League season and the top-performing teams in the final standings of the 2022/23 FKF Women Division One league.

Zone A will encompass teams from Nairobi and the Coast regions, while Zone B will feature teams from the Nyanza and Upper Rift Valley regions.

In Zone A for the 2023/24 season, participating teams include Uweza Women (Nairobi), Mathare United Women (Nairobi), Mombasa Olympic (South Coast), MTG United (North Coast), Falling Waters Barcelona (Central), Sunderland Samba (Nairobi), Macmillan Queens (Nairobi), Kangemi Starlets (Nairobi), and Kayole Starlet (Nairobi).

In contrast, Zone B will include Kisumu Allstarlets (Nyanza), Kisped Queens (Nyanza), Gideon Starlets (Nyanza), Royal Starlets (Upper Rift), Eldoret Falcons (Upper Rift), Kolwa Falcons (Nyanza), and Gene Queens (Upper Rift).

The league’s tentative kickoff date is set for September 30, 2023.

Looking ahead, the FKF Women National Super League aims to expand further in the 2024/25 season, with the goal of having ten teams in each zone.

Moreover, the FKF Women Division One will now feature action in four zones: Zone A, B, C, and D. Zone A will comprise teams from Nairobi, Central, and Eastern regions, while Zone B will host teams from the North Coast and South Coast regions.

Zone C will encompass teams from Nyanza and Lower Rift regions, and Zone D will include teams from Western and Upper Rift regions.

The league’s tentative commencement date is October 14, 2023.