Beldine Odemba is set to lead Harambee Starlets at the 2025 CECAFA Women’s Championship in Tanzania, bringing an end to speculation over her future as head coach following a tense weekend of uncertainty.

Harambee Starlets will face Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan and Tanzania as they seek to reclaim the regional title they last won in 2019.

Shortly after landing from Morocco on June 6, 2025, speculation was rife on social media that Odemba had left her role as Starlets’ coach.

The development had thrown Kenya’s preparations for Cecafa into disarray.

Sources say Odemba agreed to take the team to Tanzania following a lengthy conversation with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed.

Harambee Starlets, who reported to camp on June 11, 2025, at Kasarani Stadium, were scheduled to jet out to Dar es Salaam later at night.

Following the rescheduling of the 2025 FKF Women’s Cup final (in Nakuru) which was colliding with Starlets’ match against Burundi this Saturday, June 14, 2025, the home team will now enjoy services of the five players from Kibera Soccer Women and Vihiga Queens, who were supposed to take part in the 2025 FKF Women’s Cup final.

The players include goalkeeper Vivian Shiyonzo, forward Faith Mboya, defender Janet Mumo and midfielder Medina Abubakar (Kibera), while Vihiga Queens’ absentees are Alice Mideri, Martha Amnyolet and Swaum Masungo.

Saturday’s tournament will serve as a build-up to the 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final-round qualifier against Gambia.

Kenya aims to return to the continental stage for the first time since making their debut in 2016.

Five teams (Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and hosts Tanzania) have confirmed participation in the regional tourney, which runs from today, June 12, 2025, to June 22, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.

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

The last edition of the tournament was held in 2022, where hosts Uganda thrashed Burundi 3-0 to claim the title.

Kenya last participated in the championships in 2019 and lifted the trophy after beating Tanzania 2-0 in the final.