Beldine Odemba, head coach of the Kenya women’s national team, has urged her players to sharpen their goal-scoring instincts following a comfortable 2-0 victory over India during a 2026 FIFA Series match held at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
The Harambee Starlets clinched their second victory of the day with goals from Martha Amunyolet and Terry Engesha, showing a strong performance in the vibrant atmosphere of Nairobi.
Earlier, the Malawi Scorchers faced a challenging debut to their campaign, suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat against Australia, who struck early in the sixth minute with a well-executed attacking play that caught Malawi’s defence off-balance.
The tournament is set to conclude on Wednesday, April 15th, with the third-place playoff scheduled for 2.00 pm, followed by the final at 6.00 pm to crown the inaugural FIFA Women’s Series champion.
In the upcoming matches, Kenya is set to face Australia, while Malawi will clash with India in the battle for third place. Odemba has called on her players to step up their goal tally against Australia, who currently hold the 15th rank in the world.
‘Kenya could have netted more’
“We were well aware of their strengths, particularly their tendency to play centrally and to break forward quickly.”
“The players adhered to the tactical instructions well; they performed admirably, and we could have easily scored more, particularly in the first half. However, as a coach, I always find room for improvement.”
When asked to reflect on how Kenya managed to dominate India, Odemba remarked: “In women’s football, there are instances where you adapt to the pace of your opponent. If India had been sharper, our girls would have responded in kind.”
“It was important to read the game correctly and find strategies that would be effective for us, especially after securing an initial goal, though we did become a tad comfortable.”
“We would’ve liked to see more goals; it was our hope that the girls could really push themselves, but we also have another match on Wednesday.”
Leading into their match against Australia, Odemba added: “We were aware we had a game on Thursday, so we opted to rest certain players.
“It was unfortunate that Ruth (Ingosti) picked up an injury, but I am confident she was watching and could see that Nora (Anne) is ready to step up. We’ve prepared all 24 players in our camp, and they are all set to take on Australia.”
This tournament is also a crucial part of the Harambee Starlets’ preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will take place in Morocco from July 25th to August 16th.
“These friendly matches present our best opportunity as a technical team to integrate and transition players,” Odemba shared. “By the time we reach WAFCON, our hope is that the team will be well-acquainted and prepared.”
“At that stage, it won’t be the time for evaluating who fits in and who doesn’t; we will have players ready for the competition.”
Kenya’s Group A in WAFCON
Hosting the FIFA Women’s Series allows Kenya to focus on enhancing crucial areas of football development beyond just gameplay.
This tournament will aid in the growth of event management, operational planning, and match officiating, while providing invaluable experience in overseeing international tournaments.
Kenya has been placed in Group A of WAFCON alongside Morocco, Senegal, and Algeria, promising a fiercely competitive environment.
Kenya earned their passage to WAFCON after a convincing two-legged victory against Gambia in the qualifiers, triumphing with a 3-1 win in the first leg and securing a 1-0 result in the second leg.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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