The head coach of Kenya’s women’s national team, Beldine Odemba, has urged her players to be more decisive in the attacking third, even after their impressive 2-0 victory over India during a FIFA Series match at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
The Harambee Starlets clinched the win with a goal in each half while playing under the bright Nairobi sun. Scorers Martha Amunyolet and Terry Engesha shone in what was an exhilarating match.
In the other match of the day, the Malawi Scorchers struggled to find their rhythm, suffering a heavy 5-0 loss to Australia. The Aussies quickly capitalised on a defensive lapse from Malawi, scoring just six minutes into the game.
The tournament is set to wrap up on Wednesday, April 15th, 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.
Kenya’s next challenge will be against Australia, while Malawi will go head-to-head with India in the playoff for third place. Odemba has called on her squad to step up their goal-scoring efforts against Australia, who are currently ranked 15th in the world.
‘Kenya could have scored more’
“We were aware of their strengths; they prefer to play through the middle and then push forward with the ball,” Odemba noted.
“The players followed 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 best India, Odemba provided clarity: “In women’s football, you often adjust to the tempo of the opponent. If India had been more clinical, our girls would have had to raise their game.”
“It was about reading the flow of the match and identifying what would work in our favour, especially after we had scored. We became a tad too relaxed.”
“Ideally, we would have liked to add to our goal tally; our aim was for the girls to play with full intensity, but we have another match to focus on come Wednesday.”
On the eve of the clash with Australia, Odemba shared: “We were originally scheduled to play on Thursday, which is why we allowed some players to rest.”
“It’s unfortunate that Ruth (Ingosti) picked up an injury, but I’m confident she watched the game and saw that Nora (Anne) is capable of stepping up. We have prepared all 24 players in camp, and they are all set to take on Australia.”
This tournament is part of the Harambee Starlets’ preparation for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) to be held in Morocco from July 25th to August 16th.
“This is our best opportunity as the technical team to integrate and transition players during these friendly matches,” Odemba explained. “By the time we arrive at the competition (WAFCON), we hope the squad will be well gelled and in peak form.”
“We won’t have time to assess who’s joining and who’s leaving, as we’re preparing players who are ready for the challenge.”
Kenya’s Position in WAFCON Group A
Hosting the FIFA Women’s Series allows Kenya to enhance vital aspects of football development outside just match exposure.
The tournament aims to improve event organisation, operational strategy, and refereeing while also providing critical experience in managing international competitions.
Kenya has been placed in Group A of the WAFCON alongside Morocco, Senegal, and Algeria, in what is expected to be a fiercely competitive group.
The Starlets earned their spot at WAFCON after a strong performance in the qualifiers, achieving a 3-1 victory over Gambia in the first leg and sealing their progression with a 1-0 win in the return match.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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