Harambee Starlets coach urges President Ruto to secure Women's AFCON hosting rights
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 15.07.26. | 08:51
The team will now head to France for a one-week training camp before travelling to Morocco for the tournament, which begins next week
Even before Harambee Starlets kick a ball at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, head coach Beldine Odemba has set her sights on an even bigger ambition, urging President William Ruto to bring the next edition of the continental showpiece to Kenya.
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Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday morning, Odemba appealed to the Head of State to bid for the hosting rights of the 2028 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, arguing that the country's investment in infrastructure for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations would leave Kenya well placed to stage another major continental tournament just a year later.
The Starlets coach made the passionate appeal during a breakfast meeting attended by both Harambee Starlets and the Junior Starlets before the two national teams departed for their respective assignments.
"We are hosting the 2027 AFCON, and that means our infrastructure will be ready and available. After this year's WAFCON, we will have another WAFCON in 2028. Kindly help us play at home."
Although President Ruto did not directly address Odemba's request, he reaffirmed the government's commitment to transforming Kenyan sports through sustained investment in sporting infrastructure and capacity building.
Odemba's bold appeal came as the Harambee Starlets prepare for only their second appearance at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Kenya returns to the continental championship for the first time since making their debut in 2016, with hopes of producing a much-improved campaign.
The team will now head to France for a one-week training camp before travelling to Morocco for the tournament, which begins next week.
Kenya has been drawn in a daunting Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal and Algeria, a pool widely regarded as one of the toughest in the competition.
The Starlets will begin their campaign against tournament hosts Morocco on Sunday, 26 July, before facing Senegal on Thursday, 30 July. They will wrap up their group-stage fixtures against Algeria on Monday, 3 August.
The squad will be targeting history in Morocco by reaching the knockout stages for the first time. At the very least, they will be determined to register their maiden victory at the tournament after a disappointing debut campaign in 2016, when they suffered 3-1 defeats to Ghana and Mali before ending their participation with a 4-0 loss to Nigeria.
