Kenya’s Harambee Starlets have assembled a preliminary 36-player squad that will begin the journey towards qualification for the 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, with a first round duel against Tunisia.
Head coach Beldin Odemba has named a squad with a blend of young and experienced players, and speaking exclusively to Telecomasia.net, says this is one of her ambitions to start building a team for the future, now.
Among the young players who have earned call ups to the preliminary squad include defender Elizabeth Ochaka, who captained Kenya to her first ever Under-17 Women’s World Cup as well as Elizabeth Mideva and Fasila Adhiambo who have all been part of Kenya’s Under-20 squad last year.
I have always wanted to build a conveyer belt that can give us a competitive team in the next five or so years and the best way to do this is to start by infusing them into the squad early enough. We want them to come in and gain valuable experience and also compete for a place in the team. Once they get used to this level at their young age, it will be easy for them to handle the pressure in the next few years.
Kenya will face Tunisia in the first leg at home on February 21, before playing the return tie up North four days later.
