Harambee Starlets Handed WAFCON 2026 Reality Check After Loss to Benin in Friendly Match

Harambee Starlets received a reality check as far as their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is concerned following a 2-0 loss to Benin on Monday.

Starlets took on Benin in one of their two friendly matches lined up this week as they tune up for WAFCON 2026 which will take place between March 17 and April 3 in Morocco.

However, the match played at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast brutally exposed how Beldine Odemba’s charges still need a lot of work before they embark on their WAFCON journey.

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Odemba named a strong lineup that had goalkeeper Lilian Awuor, defenders Enez Mango and Ruth Ingosi as well as the likes of Mwanalima Adam, Elizabeth Wambui, Martha Amunyolet, Jentrix Shikangwa and Fasila Adhiambo most of who were key to their qualification journey.

However, Benin took just 10 minutes to carve them open as German-based Nailatou Sadikou scored the opening goal for the West Africans who took a 1-0 lead to the break.

Upon resumption, Kenya still did not find a breakthrough and it was Benin celebrating a second goal instead when FAR Rabat forward Yolande Gnammi doubled their advantage after 64 minutes.

It was an eye-opening match for Starlets and they hope to have picked up valuable lessons before they face host nation Ivory Coast in their second friendly match at the same venue on Wednesday with the match scheduled at 10pm East African time.

Following their matches in West Africa, the team will travel to Miramas, France, for a residential training camp. This final phase of preparation, running until March 15, will focus on tactical refinement, recovery, and building team cohesion before they head to Morocco for the tournament.

At WAFCON 2026, Kenya are in a tough Group A and will begin their campaign against the host nation, Morocco, on March 17 before playing Senegal on March 20 while their final group stage match against Algeria is on March 23.