Harambee Starlets captain Mwanalima Adam expects a tougher test in the third round of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers.
Starlets are set to face Malawi after the Scorchers crushed Zimbabwe 9-0 on aggregate.
Adam said the team has put behind them the 22-0 aggregate demolition of Seychelles and they are already looking ahead to a more demanding assignment as interim coach Godfrey “Solo” Oduor’s charges pursue their Olympic dream.
“I think our next match will be a good one because Malawi are a stronger team than Seychelles. As players, however, we have put the Seychelles match behind us, and we are now focusing on the upcoming game. We are ready and prepared for Malawi,” Adam said.
The Scorchers sealed a date with Kenya after a 7-0 win over Zimbabwe in the return leg in Harare on Tuesday following a 2-0 first-leg triumph in Lilongwe.
Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga spearheaded Malawi’s attacking threat, scoring four goals in the 9-0 aggregate in the two legs.
Temwa struck a hat-trick in the return leg as the Scorchers overwhelmed their neighbours to advance.
The result sets up a significant test for Starlets, who have enjoyed a prolific start to their qualifying campaign. Malawi’s credentials are underlined by their historic run to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final. Making their tournament debut, the Scorchers became the first side in the modern WAFCON format to reach the final on their first attempt.
This earned them global recognition and direct qualification to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Kenya scored 11 goals in each leg against Seychelles, sealing a 22-0 aggregate to advance. The two-legged third-round tie is scheduled from February 23 to March 6, 2027, as Starlets continue their pursuit of a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Kenya U17 suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ghana in a friendly match played in Morocco yesterday, with the wasteful Junior Starlets paying the price for their missed chances. The team will now turn its focus to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, where they start their campaign against China on Monday.
Meanwhile, Kenyan FIFA referee Josephine Wanjiku has been appointed as a centre referee for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, set for October 17 to November 7, 2026. Wanjiku also officiated at the WAFCON in Morocco and the CECAFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers in Rwanda, all within four months.
