The full-time whistle in Blida brought a mix of frustration and encouragement for the Harambee Starlets. After a narrow 2-1 loss in their first match, a 93rd-minute equalizer by Algeria snatched a 1-1 draw in the second, denying Kenya a morale-boosting victory. Yet, for head coach Beldine Odemba, these two friendlies were never about the results alone. They were a vital diagnostic tool, exposing the fine margins that separate continental contenders from participants.
Speaking after the matches, Odemba pinpointed a recurring theme that emerged from both games: the team’s mental resilience in critical moments. “Immediately after we score, we tend to struggle,” she observed candidly. That lapse in concentration, particularly in the dying minutes, proved costly in both matches and highlighted an area requiring immediate attention. The ability to manage a game after taking the lead, to maintain defensive shape and composure under pressure, is a hallmark of top teams, and it’s a skill the Starlets are actively forging in the fire of competition.
Despite the late heartbreak, Odemba expressed clear delight in the team’s overall improvement and trajectory. The performance in the second match showed a team that had quickly learned from its mistakes, applying tactical adjustments with greater composure and confidence. The coach praised the effort, noting, “You could clearly see the girls tried to apply what we worked on,” and highlighted the positive step of scoring in both away matches. Standout forward Mwanalima ‘Dogo’ Adam, who netted Kenya’s goal in the 1-1 draw, continued her excellent form, providing a constant threat up front.
As the team shifts its full focus to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, these friendlies have served their purpose. They have given the technical bench, in Odemba’s words, “a much clearer picture of what lies ahead at WAFCON and what must be fixed”. The journey continues, with the lessons from North Africa now forming the blueprint for the final phase of preparation
