Do-or-Die: Kenya Face Algeria For First WAFCON Win

Kenya eye first WAFCON win as they face Algeria, already lost to Senegal

Kenya Vs Algeria: Starlets chase historic first win as WAFCON group stage ends. Harambee Starlets target clean sheet against Algeria in must-win WAFCON clash.

Odemba confident Kenya can bounce back against Algeria In WAFCON finale...

Kenya women’s head coach Beldine Odemba says her team is confident of bouncing back when they take on Algeria in their final group match of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat on Monday.  

Harambee Starlets opened their WAFCON campaign with a 4-0 loss to hosts Morocco on July 26, then fell 1-0 to Senegal four days later.

After two defeats, Kenya return to action on Monday against Algeria in their last Group A game. The North Africans are still in the hunt for a quarter-final spot, sitting second in the group on three points.

If Algeria beat Kenya, they will move to six points level with group leaders Morocco. The hosts face Senegal in the other Group A match on Monday.

Speaking at Moulay El Hassan Stadium ahead of the match at Olympic Stadium, Odemba stressed the need to take their chances. Harambee Starlets are still looking for their first goal and first win at this WAFCON.

Odemba and Awuor target defensive improvement against Algeria

“We have been working on the scoring; it is something which we have lacked for the last two matches,” said Odemba. She added that the team has also tightened up at the back, noting the progress from conceding four goals to Morocco to just one against Senegal. “We have also improved on our defence. We conceded one goal in the second match which is different from the four goals allowed against Morocco. That is the spirit going into the match; we want to push at least for a clean sheet for our keeper Awuor.”

Goalkeeper Lilian Awuor backed her coach’s outlook, saying the squad is in good spirits and full of belief ahead of the must-win clash with the North African side.

“It’s not over till it’s over. We are prepared enough for the match and we are looking forward to a win so that we can qualify to the next round,” offered Awuor.

“Football is a game of surprises and you never know we may upset the opponents. We have experienced players and young stars and we have good preparations for the match.”

Benstiti expects a tough test from Kenya

 

Algeria head coach Farid Benstiti said Kenya will not be an easy opponent, pointing to their four previous meetings with Harambee Starlets.  

He also noted that preparing for Kenya was trickier than planning for the other Group A teams, Morocco and Senegal.

“Since the draw for this tournament was done, I was very much more worried to meet Kenya than Senegal and Morocco,” said Benstiti.

“We have met before and it’s a very great team with talented players. We have tried to analyse Kenya's data in vain because we couldn’t get it, but we are prepared enough for tomorrow's task.”

At the last Women's AFCON, the Fennecs made history by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time before their run ended in the quarter-finals. They were beaten by Ghana, who went on to finish third in the tournament.

That tournament was a big step forward for Algerian women's football and showed the team can now compete with the continent's established powerhouses.

It's MATCHDAY

🇰🇪 vs 🇩🇿#HarambeeStarlets #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026 pic.twitter.com/fPhYHwdhcW

— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) August 3, 2026

Algeria looked strong in qualifying for this year’s finals. They opened with a 5-0 away win over South Sudan, then wrapped up an 8-0 aggregate victory after another dominant display at home.

Morocco top Group A on six points, followed by Algeria and Senegal in second and third. Kenya sit bottom of the group with no points.

The Atlas Lionesses take on Senegal at El Hassan Abdallah Stadium in Rabat. All of Monday’s fixtures are scheduled for 11pm Kenya time.

Aside from the continental crown, WAFCON 2026 will also decide Africa’s representatives for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.