The Kenya women’s national football team, Harambee Starlets, has capped a landmark run of success with a significant leap in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking, climbing seven places to position 133 globally.
The jump reflects a period of renewed competitiveness and belief within the squad, highlighted by their long-awaited qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The achievement ends a ten-year absence from the continental tournament and signals the Starlets’ resurgence on the international stage.
Coach Beldine Odemba guided the team through two challenging qualification rounds, beginning with a crucial away victory over Tunisia.
The Starlets then sealed their spot with a dominant 4-1 aggregate win against The Gambia, sparking nationwide pride and becoming the key factor behind their improved global ranking.
With qualification secured, attention quickly shifted to strengthening the team ahead of the Morocco finals.
Kenya lined up two high-profile international friendlies against higher-ranked Algeria (73rd), using the fixtures to measure their progress and identify areas for improvement.
Despite a narrow 2-1 loss in the first meeting, the Starlets responded with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the second match.
Star striker Mwanalima Adam continued her excellent form, scoring in both games and reinforcing her importance to Kenya’s attack.
Speaking after the fixtures, coach Odemba noted that the tests against strong North African opposition provided valuable insight.
“We need to work on mental toughness and concentration,” she said. “When we score, we tend to struggle, but when we contain the opponents, we play a good game. We now know what to do and the calibre of players we are going to meet.”
She urged continued support from the government and federation to ensure proper preparations, stressing that the goal is not just to participate but to compete strongly at WAFCON.
The Starlets’ rise in the global rankings signals growing momentum and with improved preparation, Kenya will be aiming to make a meaningful impression in Morocco next year.
