Harambee starlets’ midfielder Corazon Aquino wants fans to show up in numbers and support them during their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against their Tunisian counterparts.
The provisional squad of 36 has been training at the Kasarani
annexe since February 10 and Aquino believes they are progressing well ahead of
the task ahead.
The experienced Simba Queens midfielder who is among the
senior players in the squad points out that the 12th man advantage will propel
them to victory, making the second leg fairly manageable.
She also notes that there is competition amongst the players
in training, which is a good sign that everyone is eager to represent the
country.
“Qualifiers have never been easy but come what, may we have
to secure maximum points ahead of the second leg because our opponents are
equally good. So we appeal to our fans to come out in numbers and support us, we
won’t let you down in numbers, “said Aquino.
Head coach Beldine Odemba’s squad boasts of a blend of
experienced and youthful players that includes 10 foreign-based players, Simba
Queens' top scorer striker Jentrix Shikangwa, Morocco-based Violet Nanjala and
Cynthia Shilwatso of Turkish side Besiktas.
Fullback Vivian
Nasaka who plays for Hakkarigücü was
expected in camp by close of business Wednesday.
FKF Women Premier League leading scorers Catherine
Khaemba of (Bungoma Queens, Rebecca
Okwaro of Kenya Police Bullets and Beverline Adika of Zetech Sparks also add to the depth of the camp.
Should Kenya overcome the “Eagles of Carthage” to the second
round, they will face the winner of the match between Niger and Gambia, a
critical step toward securing their ticket.
The Kenyan beauties will be eager to make their long-awaited
return to the tournament, having last appeared in the Yaoundé 2016 Cameroon
WAFCON tournament where they fell in the group stage.
Starlets lost their Morocco 2022 out of the pitch after the
Football Kenya Federation withdrew from the final round of qualifiers against
Uthe ganda Women’s team on January 31, 2022.
Starlets, who had beaten South Sudan and Sierra Leone in the
first and second rounds respectively.
Beldine Odemba’s charges lost 2-1 on aggregate to Botswana to
miss out on a place at the 2024 event.
“It's always important to play at home in familiar weather
in front of our fans. We urge our fans to come out in numbers and support us as
we search for maximum points,“ said Odemba.
The second round fixtures took place on October 20–28, 2025,
in Tunis.