Harambee Starlets Coach Sounds Alarm Ahead of Tricky WAFCON Second Leg Against Gambia

Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba may be carrying a 3-1 first leg lead to their return match against The Gambia but she is sounding an alarm to her charges.

Kenya face The Gambia in the return match of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Senegal on Tuesday and need just a draw to make a return to the continental competition next year.

Odemba’s team did most of the job in Nairobi last Friday, when they won 3-1, and should have extended their lead following a host of missed chances, but even with the big lead, Odemba is striking a cautious tone.

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“The job is not done yet. We need to ensure we remain focused for the next 90 minutes,” Odemba told Telecomasia.

“The urge and the hunger is there. It has been 10 years since we played at the WAFCON and we want to break that duck,” she added.

Odemba’s team has three players who were part of the squad that played at WAFCON nine years ago and says the hunger to be in Morocco next year is what is driving the team.

The Kenya Police Bullets coach is disappointed that her team failed to make use of the many chances they created in the first leg and now wants them to forget about their two-goal advantage and complete the job at the Stade Lat Dior in Thies in Senegal on Tuesday evening.

“We have a two-goal cushion, though we should have had more and we need to protect it at all costs,” said the experienced tactician.

“We want to celebrate after the final whistle in Senegal and the girls are very focused for that. There are only a few who have tasted WAFCON action in this team and they did so as young girls back in 2016. Now, we want to ensure that all of us get a feel of it.”

Starlets have also been motivated by a promise from President William Ruto to reward each player Ksh1 million if they win and Ksh500,000 each for a draw that would see them qualify for WAFCON 2026.