Harambee Starlets jet out to Abidjan this morning for high-profile friendlies against Ivory Coast, as head coach Beldine Odemba fine-tunes her squad ahead of a potential Wafcon return.

The team, missing captain Dorcas Shikobe due to injury, will use the matches to gauge their readiness for October’s crucial qualifiers against Gambia.

The national women’s football team Harambee Starlets is expected to travel to Abidjan this morning (8.30am) ahead of their double high level friendly matches against the hosts Ivory Coast this month.

Head coach Beldine Odemba who quashed fans pressure by downing Tunisia 1-0 in the first round of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last February has named a strong squad for the friendly games scheduled for April 4 and 8 respectively.

The team which is poised for a first Wafcon return since 2016 will be without captain Dorcas Shikobe who sustained an injury while featuring for her Greek club Sirines.

Promising defender Elizabeth Ochaka of Kenya Police Bullets FC will also miss the senior team engagements since she is in the camp with the Junior Starlets who are preparing to face Cameroon this month for the third round of the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup Qualifiers.

There is no space in this camp for Egypt-based Janet Bundi Moraa who has been dropped by Odemba. Teenager and KCSE candidate Elizabeth Mideva of ArchBishop Njenga who featured against Tunisia has also been left out as well as Bullet’s winger Emily Moranga.

However, Ulinzi’s Tabitha Amoit, Norah Ann (Vihiga Queens), Lucy Kukwe (Police Bullets) and Kibera Girls’ Soccer striker Faith Mboya have made the cut in the travelling squad after missing out during the previous outing against Tunisia.

Speaking about the squad, Coach Odemba emphasised the importance of the upcoming matches, “The purpose of these friendlies is to evaluate our progress, identify areas for improvement, and build on our strengths. That’s why I’ve made minimal changes to the squad from the Tunisia camp; to get a clear picture of where we stand as a team.”

She continued to say, “It’s unfortunate that we’ll be missing our captain, Dorcas Shikobe, due to an injury she picked up in Greece. I wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to having her back in our future matches.”

The build up matches will be critical for the Harambee Starlets who are scheduled to face Gambia in October with their sights firmly on a Wafcon ticket.

Ivory Coast on their part intend to use the Kenya test matches in preparation for their crunch tie against Senegal in the qualifiers.

Last year, the team played five friendly matches against Philippines, Chinese Taipei and Russia in the Pink Lady tournament held in Turkey and two matches against   Morocco.