Harambee Starlets name squad to face Morocco in friendly

Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba. (Photo/FKF Media).

By Erick Kariuki
Friday, May 30, 2025

Morocco, currently ranked 60th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, will provide a worthy test for the Kenyan side as they continue fine-tuning ahead of the crucial qualifiers.

Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba has named a 23-player squad to face Morocco in an international friendly set for June 4, 2025. The friendly serves as Odemba’s build-up for the final round of the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against Gambia in October, with a blend of return features in the team.

Morocco, currently ranked 60th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, will provide a worthy test for the Kenyan side as they continue fine-tuning ahead of the crucial qualifiers.

Matches in North Africa have historically posed major challenges for Kenyan teams, with hostile crowds, technically gifted opponents, and controversial officiating often stacking the odds against visitors.

However, the Starlets recently made history in Tunis when they defeated Tunisia 1-0 thanks to an early strike from Tereza Engesha, an iconic moment that cemented Kenya’s first-ever away win against North African opposition.

That victory sealed a 1-0 aggregate result in the second round of WAFCON qualifiers after a goalless first leg in Nairobi, sending Kenya into the final round where they will meet The Gambia Women Scorpions in October.

The win was not only a morale booster but also a defining moment, signalling Kenya’s growing presence in the women’s football scene across the continent.

The Starlets now have their sights set on returning to the WAFCON tournament for the first time since their debut in 2016.

Coach Odemba’s latest squad reflects both form and potential, with several notable additions and returns.

Kibera Soccer Women goalkeeper Vivian Shiyonzo earns a call-up after a standout season in which she registered the second-highest number of clean sheets in the 2024/25 campaign.

Defenders Leah Andiema and Phoebe Aketch, forward Tumaini Waliaula, and midfielders Diana Wacera and Martha Amunyolet also return to the squad, having impressed with consistent performances at club level.

In a big boost to the team, captain Dorcas Shikobe is back after missing the April training camp in Ivory Coast due to injury. Her leadership and defensive stability will be key as the team prepares for the demanding fixtures ahead.

However, the squad will be without goalkeeper Lilian Awuor, who remains in Romania due to work permit issues that prevent her from leaving the country during her application process.

Coach Odemba emphasised that the friendly against Morocco is not just a test match but a critical opportunity to assess tactical cohesion and player readiness ahead of the final qualifying hurdle.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Annedy Kundu and Vivian Shiyonzo