Kenya Women’s team Harambee Starlets will have to fight to avoid an early exit from the continental games after a 0-0 draw against Tunisia in their 2026 WAFCON opening qualifier on Friday, February 21, 2025.

With the results delicately poised, the spotlight now falls on the team’s coaching staff led by coach Beldine Odemba and her assistants to conjure up new strategies for the return tie.

The ladies will travel to North Africa ahead of the return leg clash on Tuesday, February 25 in Tunis.

The team recently enlisted the experience of Kisumu Allstars coach Charles Bruno to bolster up the department that also has Jackline Juma among other trainers.

Crowd concerns

A sizeable number of fans thronged Langata Complex to support the ladies but left empty-handed with no enthralling actions or goals to offer.

They were seemingly frustrated with the team’s attacking display. Despite creating a host of chances, the side could not find a crucial home goal against the North Africans and are now presented with the challenging task of doing so on enemy territory if they are to entertain chances of progressing.

The fans in attendance made their sentiments known with the most pressing issue revolving around the team management and specifically the team’s technical bench led by the Police Bullets coach.

Central to fans’ concern was the team’s failure to maximise on the services of an in-form Jentrix Shikangwa.

Despite her impressive showing in her club duties where she scored 17 goals, the striker only lasted on the pitch for a couple of minutes as a late substitute, with many fans left questioning what could have been if she was handed an extended run.

Team selection

The striker is the leading scorer in the Tanzania Women’s League where she is enjoying a fine vein of goal-scoring form with Simba Queens.

The Kenya Women Premier League lead scorers of Rebecaa Okwaro and Catherine Khaemba were also non starters while Violet Nanjala was forced to contend with her place on the bench.

In her post-match views, the coach decried the lack of being clinical as she hinted at a different second leg in Tunisia.

“We played well and we’ were tactical. We used the wings and created loads of chances. It is unfortunate we could not make them count. It will be a different game in the second leg,” she assured.

Odemba will be tasked with sieving through the pool of talented stars at her disposal and who she settles on in her attack ranks among her most crucial decisions yet while at Starlets.