A Decade of Waiting Ends

NAIROBI – For the first time in ten years, Kenya’s national women’s football team, the Harambee Starlets, will compete in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), and at the heart of this resurgence is striker Mwanahalima “Dogo” Adam. The 28-year-old captain was instrumental in securing Kenya's spot in the 2026 tournament, a journey she describes as a personal redemption after missing the team's last appearance in 2016 due to her secondary school examinations.

The Starlets punched their ticket to Morocco following a commanding 4-1 aggregate victory over The Gambia in the final round of qualifiers. Adam was the undisputed hero, scoring two goals in the first leg's 3-1 win in Nairobi and netting the decisive lone goal in the return fixture in Thiès, Senegal. Her performance cemented a historic return for Kenya to Africa’s premier women's football competition, now expanded to 16 teams and scheduled to run from Wednesday, March 17 to Friday, April 3, 2026, in Morocco.

European Stint Ignites Starlet’s Form

Adam’s crucial contributions to the national team follow a significant shift in her professional career. After struggling for consistent playing time at her parent club, Kansas City Current in the United States, Adam made a pivotal loan move to Danish side HB Køge in July 2025. The forward has openly credited this move as the turning point for her career revival. “It has really helped me because what I really needed was playing time,” Adam stated in an interview with Telecomasia.net on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. “As a footballer, you always want to be on the pitch playing, and I knew to sustain my tempo, I needed to play more.”

The increased minutes and renewed confidence in Denmark have visibly translated to her performance for the Starlets. Head Coach Beldine Odemba has lauded the impact of senior players like Adam, noting their experience was a confidence booster for the squad. “We don’t want to go as participants; we want to go and compete,” Odemba told journalists on Tuesday, October 29, 2025, emphasizing the team's high ambitions.

The Road to Morocco and Beyond

Kenya's qualification campaign was marked by resilience. Before overcoming The Gambia, the Starlets edged out a formidable Tunisian side 1-0 on aggregate, a victory secured through an away win highlighted by goalkeeper Lilian Awuor’s heroic penalty saves. The successful campaign has not only ended a long wait for Kenyan football fans but has also brought significant financial incentives. President William Ruto rewarded each player with KSh 1 million for their achievement.

The 2026 WAFCON will see Kenya face a high level of competition from continental powerhouses like defending champions Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and host nation Morocco. The tournament also serves as the qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists gaining automatic entry. This provides a monumental opportunity for the Harambee Starlets to make an even greater mark on the world stage.

For Mwanahalima Adam, who began her career with Mombasa Olympic while still in high school and previously played for Thika Queens in Kenya and Hakkarigücü Spor in Turkey, the goal is clear. “Being part of the squad that brought Kenya back to the big stage now is such a proud moment,” Adam told The Star newspaper on Thursday, October 31, 2025. “Back then, I couldn’t travel with the team, so this feels like making amends… our focus now is on Wafcon.”