Harambee Starlets may have endured a winless run in their latest friendlies, but the team remains optimistic of bouncing back in time for October’s crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against The Gambia, buoyed by the tough lessons learned from recent encounters against Morocco and Ivory Coast. 

The Beldine Odemba-coached side was unsuccessful for the third time on the road, this time receiving a 5-1 drubbing from a highly-ranked Morocco in Tangier on Wednesday night. 

The team had also fallen in their previous double friendly matches in Abidjan – losing 2-0 in both games last April. 

Despite the losses against the higher-ranked sides of Morocco (61) and Ivory Coast (71), the national side, which sits at position 142 on the 2025 FIFA rankings, has picked up bitter but important lessons ahead of the crucial 2026 Wafcon qualification game against Gambia in October. 

Top striker Violet Wanyonyi Nanjala, who plies her trade in Morocco, says they cannot dwell on the heavy loss but must instead remain focused on preparing for the bigger prize ahead.

“We are preparing for the second round of the 2026 qualifiers, and as other teams on the continent play in this year’s tournament, we can use the window to continue building ourselves, considering that most leagues have concluded and players are available. Of course, the earlier we rectify our mistakes, the better. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Football Kenya Federation for organising such high-profile friendlies. Even though we have not performed well, it’s a learning process,” Nanjala said. 

Nanjala’s sentiments have been echoed by experienced and long-serving skipper Dorcas Nelson Shikhobe following their dismal display away from home. 

“We have picked vital lessons based on how we expressed ourselves on the pitch. We are still building a formidable side, and I believe the new players have picked something from this ahead of our next matches. I urge the federation to continue giving us such opportunities because we can only become better through such exposure,” Shikhobe said.

Before going down in their last three games, the Starlets had raised the bar high by beating Tunisia 1-0 at home to seal a berth in the second round of the Wafcon qualifying campaign. 

Meanwhile, five teams (Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and hosts Tanzania) have confirmed participation in the regional tournament, which is set to kick off from June 12 to June 22 in Dar es Salaam.

Other CECAFA member associations, Zanzibar, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, Eritrea and Rwanda, have opted out. 

The last time the tournament was staged was in 2022, when hosts Uganda thrashed Burundi 3-1 to claim the title.  

Kenya last participated in the championships in 2019 and brought home the trophy following their 2-0 victory in the final against Tanzania.