The Harambee Starlets have been actively preparing for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with an ambitious training and friendly schedule. The team departed Kenya in late February 2026 to play two international friendlies in Abidjan, Ivory Coast as part of their final preparations for the continental tournament in Morocco.
- Their first friendly against Benin was slated for March 2, followed by a second match versus Ivory Coast on March 4 at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium.
- These games are designed to test squad cohesion, give players competitive minutes and fine‑tune tactics before WAFCON kicks off.
Forward Mwanahalima Jereko publicly appealed for support from Kenya’s leadership, urging President William Ruto and sports officials to back the team as they step up preparations overseas — highlighting the significance of these fixtures as the Starlets press toward their continental campaign.
🟥 Historical Context with Ivory Coast
Previous friendly meetings with Ivory Coast women’s team — including a 2‑0 defeat in Abidjan in April 2025 — have provided the Starlets with valuable experience against strong West African opposition.
📊 What This Means
- These friendlies in Ivory Coast are key dress rehearsals ahead of WAFCON 2026.
- Coach Beldine Odemba has emphasised the importance of intensive build‑up programmes combining overseas training and matches to help the Starlets reach peak performance levels for Morocco.
- The team is in a challenging WAFCON group with hosts Morocco, Senegal and Algeria, making these preparatory tests critical.
