Harambee Starlets edge Tunisia to set up WAFCON Qualifier against Gambia

Starlets’ Tereza Engesha scored the lone goal three minutes into the game

by CHARLENE MALWA

Football26 February 2025 - 20:56

In Summary

- Kenya played out a goalless draw (0-0) against Tunisia in the first leg on Friday.
- A victory in Tunisia would see Starlets progress to face Gambia, keeping their hopes alive for a place in next year’s final tournament in Morocco.

*Harmabee Starlets during the match/HANDOUT*

Kenya’s Harambee Starlets booked a date with Gambia after beating hosts Tunisia 1-0 in the second leg of the 15th edition of the Total Energies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers.

The second round is scheduled for October 20 and 28, 2025. Starlets’ Tereza Engesha scored the lone goal three minutes into the game at the Stade Olympique de Sousse in Tunis.

In form Starlet’s goalkeeper Lilian Awuor also saved two penalties in the 46th and 76th minutes to help the team seal the victory.

Captain Dorcas Shikobe stood firm in defence repelling the Tunisian attacks, forcing them to shoot from a distance, making Awuor have a field day saving every shot from the hosts.

Kenya played out a goalless draw (0-0) against Tunisia in the first leg on Friday.

Gambia, on the other hand, secured their place in the next round after defeating Niger 2-0. Since their maiden WAFCON appearance in 2016, Kenya has come agonizingly close to qualifying again but has fallen short in crucial moments.

A victory in Tunisia would see Starlets progress to face Gambia, keeping their hopes alive for a place in next year’s final tournament in Morocco. CAF will announce the dates for the final phase of the competition in due course. The tournament will feature 12 teams split into three groups of four.

The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals, from where the competition adopts a knockout format leading up to the final.

Kenya has endured heartbreak in past qualification campaigns. In 2018, they edged Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in Nairobi but lost 2-0 away.

Although Equatorial Guinea initially qualified, Kenya was later awarded the spot after their opponents were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player. However, the ruling was overturned on appeal, denying Starlets a second WAFCON appearance.

In 2022, Kenya had a clear path to qualification but was suspended by FIFA, allowing Uganda to qualify via a walkover. In 2023, they once again missed out after falling 1-0 to Botswana in the second leg, following a 1-1 draw in Nairobi.