Harambee Starlets set to end two years of inactivity with WAFCON qualifiers against Cameroon

Harambee Starlets will be back on the international stage next month when they take on Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in a two-legged qualification round for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The Starlets have not been in action for the last two years following a suspension by the world football governing body, FIFA, on Kenya due to government interference. The ban was lifted in November after the restoration of the federation by the government.

The team was disqualified from the 2022 qualifiers, with a game against Uganda pending months after the country had suffered FIFA’s wrath.

But now they have a chance to bounce back with a bang, as they will start away to Cameroon on September 22 before playing the return leg fixture on September 26.

The aggregate winners of this two-legged qualifier will face either Gabon or Botswana in the second round.

The victor of the second round will secure automatic qualification for the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, to be hosted in Morocco.

Should the Harambee Starlets advance to the second round, the matches will take place between November 27 and December 5, 2023.

Harambee Starlets will go to camp on September 10 to begin preparations for the match against Cameroon.

Despite the country being welcomed back to the international stage, the Starlets have not played any meaningful matches since being eligible to play at this level.

A scheduled friendly match against Albania in April was called off due to logistical challenges. The team had been in camp for two weeks.

In announcing the call-off of the match, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) said it was done after consultation between the Ministry of Sports and the Albanian Federation.

The Starlets therefore face a herculean task against a team that is one of the best in Africa, regularly appears at the WAFCON finals, and has even played at the Women's World Cup.

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