Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has revealed the two critical areas her team has targeted as they look to reignite their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign against Senegal on Thursday.

Kenya returns to action at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, seeking to erase the painful memory of a 4–0 defeat to tournament hosts Morocco in their Group A opener.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8pm East African Time.

The clash carries the intensity of an early knockout match for both nations.

Senegal’s Teranga Lionesses also stumbled at the first hurdle, falling 2–0 to Algeria.

With both teams currently sitting on zero points, Thursday’s encounter is a pivotal battle in the race for a place in the WAFCON quarter-finals.

Speaking ahead of the match on Wednesday, Odemba explained that her technical bench has placed special emphasis on rebuilding the players’ confidence while ensuring they are mentally equipped for the challenge ahead.

Mental strength

“The main area has been working on the players mentally to ensure they are ready in the right frame of mind. They are technically and tactically prepared, so we want them to be motivated, confident and ready to face the next opponent,” Odemba said.

Beyond the psychological aspect, the former Kenya Police Bullets coach revealed that her team has tailored its preparation to handle Senegal’s physical approach.

“Tactically, we have analyzed how they played their first match. They are a physical side, but we are ready and capable of matching them. Senegal are also looking for their first win, so it won’t be an easy game”.

Odemba also challenged her players to be far more clinical after wasting promising early opportunities against Morocco.

“We must improve on converting our chances. We created two clear opportunities early in the match against Morocco and failed to capitalize on them,” she noted. “We are looking for a composed performance. If we concede first, how will we react? Concentration will be key”.

Thursday’s encounter will mark the first-ever meeting between Kenya and Senegal at the senior women’s international level, adding another layer of drama to a contest where neither side has room for error.