Kenya’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 campaign came to a painful conclusion on Thursday night as the Harambee Starlets suffered a narrow 1–0 defeat to Senegal’s Lionesses of Teranga at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
Following an opening-day 4–0 setback against hosts Morocco, Beldine Odemba’s side needed a positive result to keep their knockout dreams alive. Despite dominating extended spells of the second half and unleashing 22 shots on the Senegalese goal, Kenya was undone by a single defensive lapse and a severe lack of clinical finishing.
Senegal netted the game’s decisive blow in the 34th minute when Seynabou Mbengue turned in Ndeye Awa’s pinpoint cross past Kenyan custodian Lilian Awuor.
Coach Beldine Odemba shuffled her tactical deck, introducing Valerie Nekesa late in the first half and unleashing Marion Serenge after the break to inject attacking urgency. The Starlets pushed forward aggressively, rattling the woodwork three times and creating two glorious one-on-one opportunities for Terry Engesha in the 72nd and 76th minutes.
However, Senegal goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye stood tall to deny the East Africans.
While the dream of reaching the WAFCON quarter-finals and chasing World Cup qualification is officially over, Harambee Starlets will look to salvage pride and claim their first points of the tournament when they take on Algeria on Monday, August 3.
