Harambee Starlets goalkeeper Lilian Awour expressed confidence that Kenya can recover from their opening 4-0 defeat to Morocco at the 2026 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and still qualify for the semi-finals.
Awour, who plays for Farul Constanța and is the only player in the current squad with experience from Kenya's first WAFCON appearance in 2016, praised the team's resilience and commitment despite the tough start.
Looking Ahead to Crucial Group Matches
After the loss to hosts Morocco, the Starlets are set to face Senegal on July 30 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Both teams suffered defeats in their opening matches, making this a must-win encounter for qualification hopes.
Awour noted that the team struggled early against Morocco but improved in the second half by identifying and correcting mistakes. She assured Kenyan fans that the squad remains motivated and focused on their goal.
- Kenya lost 4-0 to Morocco in their opening Group A match.
- Senegal lost 2-0 to Algeria in their opener.
- Starlets will face Senegal and Algeria in their remaining group games.
- Only the top two teams in the group will advance to the knockout stage.
"Our confidence is still there, and the motivation remains high. Our objective is still to reach the semi-finals. One defeat does not mean everything is over," Awour said.
Coach Beldine Odemba's side will need to secure victories in the upcoming matches to keep their WAFCON ambitions alive.
