Kenya head coach Beldine Odemba has described Zambia as one of Africa’s strongest teams, saying the Harambee Starlets gained valuable confidence from their recent meeting with the Copper Queens as they intensify preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Odemba also declared that Kenya will head to Morocco with ambitions of competing for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, insisting the Starlets are targeting more than just participation.
The 2026 WAFCON will serve as a qualifier for the Women’s World Cup, with the four semi-finalists earning automatic qualification.
“We are not just going to participate; we are going to compete,” Odemba told CAFOnline.com.
“I believe we have grown tremendously as a team over the years… We will be facing the best teams on the continent, but I believe we can match them and compete strongly.”
Kenya recently featured in a four-nation tournament in Zambia, where they held the Copper Queens to a 1-1 draw before narrowly losing in a penalty shootout. The Starlets later cruised to a convincing 6-0 victory over Lesotho.
“Group of death” – Odemba.
Odemba said the tournament provided the team with an important opportunity to assess its readiness ahead of the continental showpiece.
“Zambia is among the strongest teams in Africa and has enormous experience. They have played at the World Cup, the Olympics, and multiple AFCON tournaments, so getting a result like that against them gave us plenty of positives,” Odemba explained.
“The Lesotho match, on the other hand, helped boost our confidence in front of goal and allowed us to work on different aspects of our attacking play. Both matches have been extremely beneficial in strengthening our preparations.”
Kenya is in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Algeria, and Senegal, a pool Odemba described as the tournament’s “group of death.”
Meanwhile, Zambia will compete in Group C, where the Copper Queens face Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi.
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