Harambee Starlets set for CECAFA opener against Burundi
Harambee Starlets will begin their CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship campaign on June 14 against Burundi in Tanzania. The tournament will also serve as crucial preparation for Kenya’s upcoming WAFCON qualifiers.
Harambee Starlets will begin their 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship campaign on June 14 against Burundi in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Kenya is among five nations confirmed for the regional tournament scheduled for June 12 to 22, alongside hosts Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Burundi. The competition will be played in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final on June 22.
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The Starlets will face Burundi in their opening match on June 14, followed by fixtures against Uganda on June 17, South Sudan on June 19, and Tanzania on June 21.
The tournament, organised by CECAFA and the Tanzania Football Federation, serves both as preparation for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers and a warm-up for hosts Tanzania ahead of WAFCON 2025 in Morocco next month.
As part of their preparations, the Starlets played a friendly against Morocco on June 4 in Tangier, where they lost 5–1 to the Atlas Lionesses. Forward Fasila Adhiambo scored Kenya’s only goal in the 16th minute after Morocco took an early lead.
Despite the heavy defeat, the match was viewed as a valuable learning experience for Kenya’s rebuilding squad.
“Most players are on break, so we can use these matches as a learning opportunity,” said forward Violet Nanjala. “Starting next month, when most teams are competing in WAFCON, we’ll have a chance to prepare better for upcoming qualifiers and tournaments.”
Veteran defender Dorcas Shikobe echoed the sentiment, emphasising the importance of exposing younger players to top-level opposition.
“We’ve gained a lot from these matches. We’re still building a team, and the new players are learning. It’s all part of the process and will help us improve in future competitions,” she said.
With four matches scheduled in just eight days, the Starlets will need to carefully manage their squad to strike a balance between performance and player rotation as they aim for a top-two finish and a place in the final.
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