The air in Kenyan football circles is thick with anticipation and urgency as the Harambee Starlets at CECAFA Championship 2025 set out for what promises to be a defining moment not just for their continental ambitions, but for the future character of women’s football in Kenya. In a season marked by sudden coaching changes, fresh faces in the squad, and the lingering lessons of a bruising friendly against world-class opponents, the Starlets march into Tanzania amid both uncertainty and hope.
Turmoil meets tradition: Coaching changes and their ripple effect
Few expected that the eve of CECAFA 2025 would be shadowed by a seismic shift in leadership. Beldine Odemba, hailed as one of the most successful tacticians in recent Harambee Starlets lore, resigned from her post just days before the first whistle in Dar es Salaam. Her immediate exit—reportedly tied to a lack of vital administrative support—left the Football Kenya Federation scrambling for a replacement and the players facing a psychological hurdle few teams envy.
Odemba’s legacy is not to be understated. Since taking over in September 2023, she has revitalized the Starlets, notably steering Kenya to a historic triumph over the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers—ending Cameroon’s unbroken run since 1991. While her journey had valleys, including the missed chance at WAFCON qualification after a narrow defeat to Botswana, her emphasis on youth and tactical discipline laid a durable foundation for the team.
Squad shake-ups: New faces, new opportunities
The turbulence in the technical bench was mirrored by bold changes within the squad. Odemba, before her departure, had unveiled a 25-player group with an unmistakable tilt toward youth and inexperience. Notable exclusions included stalwarts like Mwanahalima Adam, Jentrix Shikangwa, and Phoebe Aketch. Filling the breach are newcomers such as midfielder Medina Abubakar Hussein of Kibera Soccer Women and Vihiga Queens striker Swaum Nanjaka Masungo—rising talents out to prove their mettle on the regional stage.
For a squad that last hoisted the CECAFA trophy in 2019, these changes are as much about seizing the moment as they are about growing the next generation of Kenyan football.
Squad list highlights
- Goalkeepers – Annedy Kundu, Lilian Awuor, Vivian Shiyonzo,
- Defenders – Elizabeth Ochaka, Alice Mideri, Tabitha Amoit, Janet Mumo, Ruth Ingosi, Dorcas Shikobe, Enez Mango, Vivian Nasaka,
- Midfielders – Diana Wacera, Martha Amunyolet, Fasila Adhiambo, Lavender Ann Akinyi, Corazone Aquino, Medina Abubakar Hussein,
- Forwards – Emily Morang’a, Swaum Nanjaka Masungo, Faith Mboya, Elizabeth Wambui, Tumaini Waliaula, Violet Nanjala.
Learning through adversity: The Morocco friendly
You learn more in defeat than in easy victory—at least, that was the message after the Starlets’ 5-1 loss to Morocco, a side ranked 60th in the world compared to Kenya’s 142nd. The encounter, held behind closed doors in Tangier, was meant as a preparatory tune-up; instead, it became a crucible. Fasila Adhiambo’s goal to leave it level at 1-1 was a bright spark before the hosts’ quality showed through in the second half.
Despite the humbling scoreline, both team leaders and federation president Hussein Mohammed stressed the value of such tests. Facing one of Africa’s elite offers a measuring stick for the Starlets. Defender Dorcas Shikobe echoed this sentiment, saying, “We are still building the team and the new ones have learned a lot. This will help in the upcoming match.” For fans and the squad alike, these hard-earned lessons may prove invaluable when the stakes climb in CECAFA matches.
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CECAFA 2025: Stakes, structure, and historical context
The 2025 CECAFA Women’s Senior Championship in Dar es Salaam holds gravity far beyond regional bragging rights. This year’s five-team tournament—featuring hosts Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya—serves as a springboard toward the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers and a potential spot at the WAFCON finals. It’s also a vital warm-up before the Starlets clash with The Gambia in October, where a ticket to the continental showpiece awaits.
History offers both encouragement and caution: Kenya’s Starlets are no strangers to the CECAFA pedestal, having finished runners-up in 2016, third in 2018, and champions in 2019. That last triumph, orchestrated at the same Azam Complex where the 2025 showdown unfolds, still resonates deeply among players and supporters. The team was unable to defend their 2019 crown in 2022 due to a FIFA suspension, making this return to the competition feel poignant—almost redemptive.
Kenya’s match schedule
- Opener against Burundi
- Uganda a few days later
- South Sudan on June 19
- Hosts Tanzania in the final round.
All matches are slated for the iconic Azam Complex, a stage where memories of triumph and heartbreak are woven into Kenyan football’s tapestry.
The human side: Players, pressure, and pride
There’s a weight that comes from wearing the national jersey at times of upheaval. The current roster blends raw enthusiasm with the quiet resolve of players like Dorcas Shikobe and Ruth Ingosi. For the newcomers, every minute on the pitch is a step toward legacy or learning—often both. The absence of former mainstays like Jentrix Shikangwa, top scorer in the 2019 edition, adds another layer of unpredictability and opportunity for someone new to step up as a difference maker.
Behind the scenes, the players must navigate not only their opponents but also the turmoil brought about by coaching indecision and reports of administrative delays. With interim appointments and technical bench reshuffles swirling, the importance of internal leadership and camaraderie cannot be overstated.
What lies ahead for Harambee Starlets
In sports, transition is often the forge in which greatness is tempered. As the Harambee Starlets begin their CECAFA journey in 2025, they are more than just a football team—they are a canvas for hopes, anxieties, and the inexhaustible Kenyan spirit. Whether this squad can rediscover continental glory depends as much on their ability to adapt and bond as it does on tactics and talent.
For fans in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and beyond, these next ten days will be more than just a measure of scores. They will be a narrative of youth foisted into the spotlight, of resilience after defeat, and of a nation’s poignant desire to keep dreaming, even amid headwinds. As the Starlets line up for their opener against Burundi, the stakes are clear: this is not just a tournament, but the first chapter of a new era in Kenyan women’s football.
