Gambia women’s national team assistant coach Omar Cha has fired a warning shot at Kenya’s Harambee Starlets, insisting their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier is far from over. Despite Kenya’s 3-1 win in the first leg at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, Cha believes the Queen Scorpions can overturn the deficit when the two sides meet again in Senegal on Tuesday.
Kenya Take Command with 3-1 First-Leg Victory
The Harambee Starlets, led by head coach Beldine Odemba, showed remarkable resilience after conceding an early goal just three minutes into the match. Gambia struck first following a rare error by goalkeeper Lilian Awuor, but Kenya quickly found their rhythm.
Fazila Adhiambo equalized before Mwanalima Adam converted a penalty to make it 2-1. Shirleen Opisa extended the lead with a third goal, giving Kenya a strong advantage heading into the return leg.
The second half saw no additional goals, sealing a 3-1 win for Kenya, who now need only a draw in the return leg to advance to the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco. The decisive match is set for October 28 at Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal.
Gambia Counting on Away Goal Advantage
Despite the loss, Gambia’s assistant coach Omar Cha remains confident that his team can bounce back. He emphasized that the Queen Scorpions’ away goal in Nairobi could prove crucial in Senegal.
“The game is still open — we have 90 minutes to play at home and one away goal already. It will be a do-or-die match for us in Senegal,” said Cha.
Cha urged his players to learn from their mistakes and approach the second leg with renewed intensity, promising a fierce contest.
“3-1 is a scoreline we can overturn. Kenya should not expect it easy; we will fight for every ball and make sure we build on our away goal,” he added.
Players Echo the Coach’s Determination
Gambia’s vice-captain Ola Buwaro echoed her coach’s fighting spirit, saying the team remains optimistic despite the setback.
“Kenya played well, and so did we. We got tired towards the end, but we’ll come back stronger in Senegal,” Buwaro said.
She added, “This is football — we’ve played the first 90 minutes and lost, but we have another 90 to make things right. I’m confident we can qualify.”
Kenya Focused on Ending Nine-Year WAFCON Drought
Meanwhile, Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba praised her players’ commitment and hunger for success. Kenya is determined to return to the continental stage after missing out on WAFCON for nearly a decade.
“It’s been nine years since we last played at WAFCON. The players are motivated — they know what’s at stake and are ready to make history again,” Odemba stated.
Kenya last appeared at the 2016 WAFCON in Cameroon, where they were grouped alongside Nigeria, Ghana, and Mali but failed to register a win. This time, Odemba’s squad aims to rewrite history and secure a spot in Morocco 2026.
