The wait is nearly over as Harambee Starlets vs The Gambia lights up Nyayo Stadium on Friday at 1600 EAT in a decisive WAFCON 2026 qualifier. Nairobi hosts the first leg, with the return set for Tuesday in Senegal, and the aggregate winner will book a coveted ticket to next year’s continental finals. For Kenya and The Gambia, this is more than a fixture, it is a chance to write a fresh chapter in their women’s football stories.
What is at stake
Kenya will welcome The Gambia at Nyayo Stadium on Friday 24 October, then travel for the second leg to Stade Lat Dior in Thiès four days later since The Gambia lack a CAF-approved home venue. The margin is thin, the stakes immense, because the team that emerges on top across the two legs qualifies directly for WAFCON 2026. This is the first ever meeting between the two nations, with Kenya seeking a return after their debut in 2016, while The Gambia are chasing a historic first appearance.
Kenya’s camp mood and selection
Head coach Beldine Odemba has intensified work at the Kasarani Annex, and the foreign-based contingent has linked up with the home core for this final push. The message from the dressing room is clear, belief is high and the team are asking for the fans’ voice at Nyayo. Defender Ruth Ingosi captured that spirit and the value of preparation in a rallying call.
“We have been in training for more than three weeks and we have faith in the session we have had with the coach and our hope is to win Friday’s game. Our morale is high, the players are pushing hard and we really need this win at home. The team is very ready for the match and the fans should come in large numbers and push us like they did with Harambee Stars. We will not let them down.”
Forward Violet Nanjala echoed the confidence while embracing the weight of the opportunity. “We are ready for the match and I know we will win. Let them come, we are waiting for them because it is an opportunity for many of us here to play WAFCON.” She added, “I know Friday’s game will not be easy but the training we have had will make it easy. Let the fans come in large numbers and push us.” Those words speak to a group that understands the task and wants to seize home advantage at Nyayo Stadium.
New faces and a deeper player pool
Odemba’s provisional list was expansive and competitive, and among the standout storylines is Ulinzi Starlets defender Lorine Ilavonga. The 17-year-old has graduated from the junior ranks to earn her first senior call-up, a fresh reminder of the pathway that Kenya are building through the youth teams. “I thank God for this opportunity. It’s not easy to get a chance to play for the national team,” Ilavonga said, summarising the hunger that new faces bring into camp.
Other recent graduates in the wide squad include goalkeeper Mercy Akoth, defender Dorcas Neema, and Lavyne Ochola, as well as Kikky Masika, all of whom have risen through the junior set-up. There have been late looks too for forwards Airine Madalina and Ashley Shilwatso, signalling a staff unafraid to reward form and expand options. For a tie that could come down to fine margins, that extra depth provides tactical flexibility and a sprinkling of youthful fearlessness.
Form line and how they got here
The route to this final round underlines Kenya’s resilience and The Gambia’s momentum. Odemba’s side edged Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate, a goalless draw in Nairobi followed by a crucial away win in Sousse through an early strike from Tereza Engesha. It was a result built on discipline and timely finishing, the very ingredients Kenya will try to replicate on Friday.
The Gambia arrive with belief after seeing off Niger 4-1 across two legs, a 2-0 win followed by a 2-1 success in the return. The Queen Scorpions have gathered results and confidence, and they carry a sense of mission into Nairobi. With the tie set to be decided over 180 minutes, both teams have shown they can grind, travel, and get over the line.
The Gambia’s long build and star power
The Gambia have unveiled a final 23-player squad that blends a strong home base with a measured sprinkling of overseas experience. Police FC lead the local contribution, and they are joined by Red Scorpions, Berewuleng, TMT and others, a foundation crafted by months of work together in camp. Assistant coach Omar Cham painted a picture of a group primed for the moment.
“Our preparation has gone very fine, and the girls are ready. We started our training in August at Ousman Saho in Old Yundum till now. We have done our homework against Kenya, we know how to approach the game tactically, and I believe we will carry the day.”
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The foreign-based core features Sevilla forward Fatoumata I. Kanteh Cham, a headline name with pace and directness, alongside Ola Buwaro of Lokomotive Moskva, Penda Bah of Viimsi JK, and Mam Drammeh and Mariama Cham of AS Bambey FC. Manyima Stevelmans, based in Latvia, adds another attacking option. The blend is deliberate, local cohesion enhanced by a few game-breakers who can stretch defenses and turn tight matches.
Cham also stressed calm and conviction, noting that The Gambia sit higher in FIFA’s rankings than Kenya. “No pressure, we are highly relaxed. On paper we are higher ranked than Kenya, but we believe in our performance. We beat Niger, a very strong team home and away in the last round, which is very impressive, but nevertheless, there is room for improvement.” He closed with a reflection that reveals the heartbeat of the camp, “We want to write history, we want to make history, and make the entire nation proud.”
Key battles to watch
The front line of The Gambia carries real threat, especially through Fatoumata I. Kanteh Cham, who will test Kenya’s defensive organization over both legs. How Ruth Ingosi and the back unit manage that space, particularly in transition, could define the first leg’s tone. Keeping the channels tight and limiting delivery into Kanteh’s preferred zones is essential.
Kenya’s midfield shape must establish rhythm early. With leaders like Corazone Aquino in the provisional list and energetic carriers around her, the Starlets will want to control tempo, circulate possession, and create good service lines to the forwards. Up front, the options of Tereza Engesha and Violet Nanjala, along with experienced pros like Mwanalima Adam, provide a mix of movement and finishing that can punish half-chances.
Tactical lenses
At home, Kenya’s task is to turn pressure into productivity while keeping a clean sheet within reach. The first 20 minutes will be a barometer, if the Starlets can push The Gambia into their half, then wide play and quick combinations around the box may produce the moments they need. The composure to recycle under pressure, rather than force tricky passes, will help them protect against counters.
The Gambia’s extended camp hints at a side comfortable in its structure. Expect solidity between the lines, quick outlets to their speed up top, and an emphasis on set-piece quality. Patience and precision may be their watchwords, because away goals, though not guaranteed, often come from disciplined phases and rehearsed restarts. The visitors will want to keep the game close and spring when gaps appear.
Tickets and match information
Football Kenya Federation has confirmed that tickets are on sale online only, there will be no match-day gate sales. Fans can purchase via tikiti.com or by dialing *519*55#, a move designed to ease queues and get supporters in early. Regular tickets cost Ksh100, while VIP tickets are Ksh500.
Kickoff is set for 4 pm Kenyan time at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. The return leg follows on Tuesday at Stade Lat Dior in Thiès, Senegal, which serves as The Gambia’s neutral venue. With the tie balanced across two dates, the noise and energy of the 12th player in Nairobi can tilt the calculus before the teams head west.
What the numbers whisper
- Kenya progressed by eliminating Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate,
- The Gambia advanced by defeating Niger 4-1 on aggregate,
- it is the first meeting between the teams, with the winner qualifying for WAFCON 2026.
Players to keep an eye on
- Kenya’s edge in the box, Tereza Engesha’s poacher’s instinct after the winner in Sousse,
- the hosts’ leadership spine, Ruth Ingosi’s defensive reads and Corazone Aquino’s control in midfield,
- The Gambia’s attacking spark, Fatoumata I. Kanteh Cham as the headline threat with support from Manyima Stevelmans and Ola Buwaro.
Voices from both camps
Kenya’s players have not shied from the moment, and their words have blended humility with certainty. Ingosi’s insistence on the value of preparation highlights the team’s work ethic, while Nanjala’s challenge says they are ready to match belief with execution. It is the tone you expect when a team knows the path back to the big stage runs through their backyard.
The Gambia’s camp projects a different kind of confidence, shaped by a long training block and a unified target. Cham’s talk of homework, tactical clarity, and history tells you the Queen Scorpions have been building to this week for months. Their mix of home polish and overseas flair makes them a balanced, dangerous opponent at Nyayo.
How the first leg could unfold
Expect Kenya to push the pace early, use width, and seek front-foot combinations to stress The Gambia’s back line. Well-timed runs into the half-spaces and cut-backs may be critical against a compact block. Defensively, the discipline to manage counters and cut out early service to The Gambia’s runners will be paramount.
For The Gambia, a compact base and quick transition play can test Kenya’s rest defense. If they keep lines tight and force the hosts wide, they will back their speed and individual quality to steal moments. Set pieces could be an equalizer, and a single high-quality delivery to a committed run can swing momentum in a heartbeat.
How to be the difference as the 12th player
- arrive early, fill the stands, and lift the team through the warm-up,
- keep the volume high at key junctures, especially after defensive wins and during corners,
- buy tickets in advance via tikiti.com or *519*55#, regular at Ksh100 and VIP at Ksh500.
Final word
Two teams, one passage to the biggest stage in African women’s football, and a city ready to roar. Friday in Nairobi offers Kenya a platform to shape the tie, and Tuesday in Senegal will test the mettle of whoever carries an advantage. Somewhere between the grit of training and the flash of a match-winning moment, this contest will find its heroes.
Whether it is the experience of Kenya’s core or the sharp edge of The Gambia’s star attackers, the margins feel fine and the narrative compelling. For the Starlets, this is a chance to chase a second continental appearance and deepen the legacy of a rising program. For the Queen Scorpions, it is the opportunity to make history, and as both camps have said, they are ready.
Now it comes down to ninety minutes in Nairobi, then ninety in Thiès, and to which team can turn preparation into poise when it matters most. In a tie that could pivot on a set piece, a save, or a single sprint in behind, the loudest voice might not be a coach or a captain, it might be the crowd that chooses to believe. Kenya has been asked to turn up, and if Nyayo answers, the Starlets will feel it with every stride.
