Beldine Odemba Reveals 3 Reasons Harambee Starlets Can Finish the Job Against Gambia and Seal WAFCON Spot

Harambee Starlets silenced The Gambia, 3-1, in the first leg of the final qualifying round of the qualifiers for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), and coach Beldine Odemba has shared the three major motivating factors in their impressive run.

In a match played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday afternoon, The Gambia made a flying start when Fatoumata Kanteh struck in the third minute, but Kenya quickly responded as Mwanalima Adam levelled the match from the penalty spot.

Fasila Adhiambo and Shirleen Opisa then added two more before halftime, securing Kenya’s advantage all the way to the final whistle.

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President William Ruto had initially promised a morale-boosting token of Ksh 5 million disbursed to the team before the match, with a promise of an additional Ksh 5 million upon securing the home win.

Harambee Starlets' convincing victory ensured the team's total earnings for the first leg stood at Ksh 10 million.

President Ruto added that for the return leg, a win will see each player earn Ksh 1 million. For a draw, every player will earn Ksh 500,000.

“It wasn’t part of the preparation, but motivation always has a positive impact on the team…players are always playing for something. If they receive a promise from the 001, it’s a significant development, and they are also looking forward to it,” Beldine Odemba told the media after the match.

Beldine Odemba added that the players are eager to make a mark and return to the WAFCON, after almost 10 years of not making the cut.

She disclosed that Harambee Starlets always enter every match with a winning mentality since they want to have a feel of playing on the continental stage once again.

“Apart from that, the players are also looking forward to winning. They are motivated to win because they want to play in the next WAFCON,” she added.

“It has been nine years, and it will be 10 by 2026 when the WAFCON will take place. So, there is that urge and hunger to qualify for WAFCON.”

Beldine Odemba added that having the likes of Mwanalima Adam, Corazone Aquino, Dorcas Shikobe, Lilian Awuor, and Lydia Akoth, who were in the squad that qualified for the 2016 WAFCON, was a confidence booster for the new players.

She pointed out that they have been a source of motivation for the newbies, often challenging them to give their all while highlighting the benefits that come with qualifying for the WAFCON.

“Most of the time, they always say that to be a champion, you need to have champions in your team,” Beldine Odemba said.

“So, it’s a good inclusion that we have three of the players who participated in the WAFCON qualifier in 2016, and it is a good motivation for the others, and they are speaking about the advantages and why we need to qualify, and they are also ready to do it for the second time.”

The return leg of the WAFCON qualifier between the Harambee Starlets and The Gambia is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28. The match will be played at the Stade Lat Dior in Thiès, Senegal.