Beldine Odemba, the head coach of the Kenya women’s national football team, has urged her players to improve their finishing skills despite achieving a comfortable 2-0 victory over India during a 2026 FIFA Series match at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
The Harambee Starlets secured the win with one goal in each half on a sunny day in Nairobi, with Martha Amunyolet and Terry Engesha finding the back of the net in an engaging match.
Earlier that day, the Malawi Scorchers faced a tough start to their tournament, suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat against Australia. The opening goal came just six minutes in, as Australia exploited a quick counterattack that left Malawi’s defence unsettled.
The tournament is set to wrap up on Wednesday, April 15th, with the third-place playoff taking place at 2.00 pm, followed by the final at 6.00 pm to crown the inaugural FIFA Women’s Series champion.
Kenya will go up against Australia, while Malawi will battle India in the playoff for third place. Coach Odemba has called on her players to find the net more frequently in their forthcoming match against Australia, who are currently ranked highest at 15th in the world.
‘Kenya could have scored more’
“We were aware of their strengths; they wanted to play through the middle and then push forward with the ball.
“The players executed the game plan well; we could have scored more goals, particularly in the first half. However, as a coach, there’s always room for improvement.”
When asked how Kenya managed to dominate India, Odemba explained: “In women’s football, sometimes you adapt to the opponent’s rhythm, and sometimes you impose your own style. Had India been sharper, our girls might have been too.”
“It was all about analysing the game and figuring out what would work for us. After getting the first goal, we did relax a bit.
“We were hoping for a few more goals; we wanted the girls to really go for it, but we’ve got another match on Wednesday.”
Looking ahead to the match against Australia, Odemba stated: “We were initially scheduled to play on Thursday, so we made sure to give some players a rest.
“It was disappointing to see Ruth (Ingosti) get injured, but I know she watched the match and can see that Nora (Anne) is more than capable. We’ve prepared all 24 players in our camp, and everyone is ready to take on Australia.”
The tournament serves as important preparation for the Harambee Starlets as they aim 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 are the best opportunity for us on the technical bench to integrate and transition players,” Odemba reflected. “By the time we get to WAFCON, we hope the team will be well-rounded and ready to compete.”
“It won’t be a time for us to evaluate who is coming in or out; we have players ready for the competition.”
Kenya in WAFCON Group A
Hosting the FIFA Women’s Series gives Kenya a chance to develop crucial aspects of football beyond just the game itself.
This tournament will aid in the advancement of event management, operational planning, and match officiating, while providing invaluable experience in handling international competitions.
Kenya has been placed in Group A for the WAFCON alongside Morocco, Senegal, and Algeria, a pool that promises to be fiercely competitive.
Kenya secured their spot at WAFCON following a convincing two-legged triumph over Gambia in the qualifiers, winning 3-1 in the first leg and sealing the deal with a 1-0 win in the return leg.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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