The Kenyan women’s national football team is set to compete against Australia following their impressive 2-0 victory over India during a 2026 FIFA Series match at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
Under the guidance of coach Beldine Odemba, the Harambee Starlets secured a goal in each half while playing amidst the bright Nairobi sunshine.
Martha Amunyolet and Terry Engesha found the back of the net for the Starlets in an engaging match. This tournament is part of the team’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will take place in Morocco from July 25 to August 16.
In contrast, Malawi’s Scorchers had a challenging start to their campaign, suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat against Australia, who took the lead just six minutes into the game with a swift attacking move that caught the Malawian defence off guard.
Malawi’s Struggles Against Australia
The Scorchers slowly found their footing as the match progressed, demonstrating improvements and pushing forward in search of a goal.
Just before halftime, Malawi nearly scored with a free-kick from Rose Kadzere that was saved, and Vanessa Chikupila’s rebound effort was blocked. However, Australia extended their advantage in the 41st minute to head into the break at 2-0.
Malawi persisted in the second half, with Chikupila testing the Australian goalkeeper from long range in the 53rd minute, but the shot was easily gathered.
Australia added to their tally with goals in the 60th, 86th, and 90+2 minutes, capitalising on defensive errors to secure a dominant win. Following this result, the Scorchers are set to face India in the third-place playoff on Wednesday.
After the match, Malawi coach Lovemore Fazili reflected: “We’ve learnt valuable lessons; it was undeniably tough facing such an experienced side. They make the most of mistakes.”
“While the goalkeeper performed adequately, there were moments where she could’ve done better to prevent the goals. There’s a significant gap between teams in our COSAFA region and Australia,” he stated. “Their players are seasoned professionals competing at a high level in Europe, and we’ve gained a lot from this experience.”
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed expressed pride in hosting the Series, recognising its importance for the development of football in the nation.
“Hosting this tournament is a significant milestone for Kenyan football. It provides our national team with vital international exposure and enhances our capability to organise and manage high-level competitions,” stated Hussein.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya emphasised the importance of such events in elevating Kenya’s profile on the global sporting stage.
“Hosting a tournament of this magnitude highlights the advancements Kenya is making in sports development,” said Mvurya. “It indicates that we’re progressing in the right direction and strengthening our standing globally. We appreciate the Federation’s alignment with the broader vision of advancing sports in our country.”
Australia Holds the Top Ranking
The tournament will wrap up on Wednesday, April 15, with the third-place playoff kicking off at 2:00 pm, followed by the final at 6:00 pm to crown the first-ever FIFA Women’s Series champion.
Hosting the FIFA Women’s Series allows Kenya an opportunity to bolster critical areas of football development beyond just match play.
The tournament is set to facilitate growth in event management, operational planning, and officiating, while providing invaluable experience in handling international competitions.
Among the four teams participating in the tournament, Australia ranks highest at 15th in the world. India follows at 67th, with Kenya at 134th and Malawi at 153rd.
Flashscore
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