Harambee Starlets exit WAFCON 2026 winless as Cameroon claim maiden title

Kenya’s return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations ended at the group stage after Harambee Starlets completed their 2026 campaign without a point.

Beldine Odemba’s side closed their Group A programme with a 2-0 defeat to Algeria at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Marine Dafeur opened the scoring for Algeria with a free-kick in the 14th minute before Lynda Bendris doubled the advantage nine minutes later.

Kenya improved after the break but could not find a way through the Algerian defence, leaving the Starlets with three defeats from three matches.

The result completed a difficult tournament for Kenya, who had opened their campaign with a 4-0 loss to hosts Morocco before going down 1-0 to Senegal. The Starlets therefore finished bottom of Group A with no points, no goals scored and seven conceded.

Despite the disappointing results, Odemba said the experience had provided an important benchmark for a team returning to Africa’s biggest women’s football competition after a decade away.

The coach highlighted tactical preparation, greater exposure to international football and improved finishing as areas Kenya must address if they are to compete more consistently with the continent’s leading sides.

Kenya showed signs of improvement as the tournament progressed. After struggling against Morocco in their opening match, the Starlets restricted Senegal to a single goal and produced a more competitive performance against Algeria, although their failure to convert chances remained a major concern.

For the technical bench, the tournament now provides a clearer picture of the standards required at continental level and the work needed ahead of future qualification campaigns.

Algeria, meanwhile, advanced from Group A in second place behind Morocco and went on to enjoy their strongest WAFCON campaign, reaching the latter stages of the competition.

The tournament eventually produced a new African champion.

Cameroon defeated Malawi 3-0 in the final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on August 16 to secure their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. Marie Ngah scored twice, with Naomi Ndjoah Eto also finding the net as the Indomitable Lionesses settled the final with three first-half goals.

Cameroon’s triumph made them only the fourth nation to win the continental women’s title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

For Kenya, the 2026 campaign ended without the results they had hoped for, but their return to the continental stage offered valuable experience and a reference point for the development required before their next major assignment.