03/08/2026
Harambee Starlets’ WAFCON campaign ends in disappointment. Three matches, three defeats and, painfully, not a single goal scored.
This is certainly not the performance we expected, but we must also be honest and ask the difficult questions about what happened before and during the tournament.
We went into WAFCON without international friendly matches to properly test the team against quality opposition. Even the training camp in France offered limited competitive value because there were no international friendlies to assess combinations, build confidence and fine-tune the team.
Team selection also raises questions. Some experienced players who could have brought valuable tournament experience and leadership were left out. Of course, coaches have the right to make technical decisions, but when the results are this disappointing, every decision must be subjected to honest reflection.
Going forward, FKF must learn from this campaign. Preparation, player selection, competitive matches and technical planning all matter. We cannot wait for a major tournament to start preparing a national team.
And importantly, the composition of the delegation accompanying Harambee Starlets also deserves reflection. It was striking to see an entirely male delegation accompanying our women’s national team, while the elected FKF NEC Women’s Representative and other qualified women representatives from the 48 FKF branches were left out. If we are serious about developing and empowering women’s football, surely our delegations should also reflect meaningful female representation. These women are part of the football leadership structures and should be given an opportunity to contribute, learn and represent the women’s game at such important assignments.
This is not about attacking individuals. It is about asking the right questions, learning the lessons and doing better for Harambee Starlets.
The disappointment should not be the end of the conversation; it should be the beginning of a serious conversation about the future of women’s football in Kenya.
| |
