Harambee Starlets Jump Seven Places in Latest FIFA Rankings

The Kenya women's national team, Harambee Starlets, has capped a monumental period of on-field success with a rewarding climb in the global rankings.

Harambee Starlets ascended an impressive seven places in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking, securing the 133rd position globally.

This tangible acknowledgement of their progress directly reflects their recent competitive grit, most notably securing qualification for the continental showpiece.

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After a decade-long wait, Harambee Starlets have booked their spot at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Harambee Starlets’ journey to WAFCON 2026 was a campaign marked by resilience and tactical maturity. Led by coach Beldine Odemba, the team successfully navigated two tough qualification rounds.

They began with a crucial away victory against Tunisia before sealing their place with a commanding 4-1 aggregate win over The Gambia in the final hurdle. This achievement has generated national pride and was the primary catalyst for their ranking boost.

Following the qualification, the focus immediately shifted to preparation for the tournament. This included two high-profile international friendlies against the higher-ranked Algeria (73rd in FIFA) a few weeks ago.

These encounters, which saw a narrow 2-1 loss followed by a hard-fought **1-1 draw**, provided the crucial test of intensity needed ahead of Morocco.

Star striker Mwanalima Adam proved her vital form by scoring in both matches, underscoring the team's attacking threat.

Following the matches, coach Beldine Odemba noted that the matches, played away against a quality North African side, exposed areas requiring refinement.

“This shows that there are some things we need to work on, especially on mental toughness and mental preparation. We need to work on a lot of concentration,” Beldine Odemba revealed.

“It could have been seen that when we score, we struggle a lot against the opponents, but when we contain them, we play a good game. We now know what to do and the calibre of players we are going to meet.

“We hope that we shall have a good preparation and that the government and federation will come through to help us prepare well.”

This critical assessment shows that the team is focused on competing, not just participating, at WAFCON. By testing themselves against stronger opposition, Harambee Starlets are fine-tuning their strategy, determined to capitalise on their new ranking status and make a mark in Morocco.