The Harambee Starlets suffered a 1-0 defeat to Senegal in their second Group A match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) held at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, confirming their exit from the tournament.
Kenya’s head coach, Beldine Odemba, expressed frustration over the team’s inability to convert several promising opportunities into goals despite creating multiple chances, including hitting the woodwork three times in the second half.
Match Summary
- Seynabou Mbengue scored the only goal in the 35th minute, giving Senegal the lead.
- Kenya started strongly, creating early chances and earning a free-kick in the 17th minute, but the Senegalese defense and goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye kept them at bay.
- In the second half, Kenya intensified their attack, with players like Marion Serenge and Terry Engesha coming close to scoring, but the woodwork denied them repeatedly.
- Goalkeeper Lilian Awuor made crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
Coach Odemba’s Reflections
Odemba acknowledged the team’s improved mentality compared to their opening 4-0 loss to Morocco but emphasized that poor finishing remains their main challenge. She noted, “From the first game we got two clear chances before the opponent scored. Today, we had even more and better chances. Our issue is chance conversion.”
Despite the disappointment, Odemba remains hopeful for the final group match against Algeria on August 3, aiming to secure Kenya’s first points in the competition and end their campaign positively.
Looking ahead, the coach plans to focus on addressing weaknesses revealed during the tournament to build a stronger team for future competitions.
