Kenya were coming up against Gambia for the first time in the history of the competition. Starlets coach Beldine Odemba handed Lilian Awuor of Farul Constanta in Turkey the starting role between the sticks.
Kenya stunned with three minutes played
However, Awuor was not able to stop a superb goal from Fatoumata Kanteh as Gambia took a shock lead with only three minutes played. Born in Spain, but playing for Gambia at the international level, Kanteh, who features for Liga F club Sevilla, beat Awuor in a one-on-one situation to slot home.
The goal awoke Kenya, who started to raid Gambia, and in the 12th minute, they missed an opener sitter after Odhiambo’s glanced header went inches wide. However, five minutes later, Kenya levelled the scores from the penalty spot.
Elizabeth Wambui of Simba SC Queens of Tanzania raced to meet a through ball from the middle of play, but she was fouled while preparing to score. Mwanalima Adam stepped up to take the resultant penalty kick, sending Gambia's Aminata Gaye the wrong way.
Two minutes later, Starlets, who were spurred on by a huge crowd that had turned out for the first leg clash, doubled their lead. Striker Fazila Adhiambo dribbled past two Gambia defenders before hitting it low into the bottom right corner.
Kenya survived a scare afterwards after Gambia’s Kanteh spotted goalkeeper Awuor out of her line and lofted the ball over, but her effort went inches wide. In the 32nd minute, Kenya put the ball into the net courtesy of Shirleen Opisa of Amus College in Uganda, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
TV replays later showed Opisa was inches offside before tapping the ball into the net.
Harambee Starlets were presented with another great opportunity in the 43rd minute, but the hard-working Adam failed to capitalise on it despite Gaye being out of position. A rebound from Adam’s effort fell to Opisa, whose powerful right-footed kick kissed over the bar.
Gambia forced into an early change
Gambia coach Mariama ‘Bom’ Sowe then suffered a blow minutes into the half-time break after he was forced to withdraw Gaye for second-choice Mary Gomes owing to an injury.
Even before Gomes could settle in goal, Kenya made it 3-1. Opisa, who deserved a goal in the game following her superb play, latched onto a sliced pass to beat Gomes with a low-footed effort.
At the start of the second half, Kenya looked to build on their lead, knowing they needed a convincing advantage to take to the return leg in a fortnight.
Starlets will need a draw of any kind in the return leg that Gambia will host in Senegal on Tuesday, October 28th, at Stade Lat Dior in Thies, to qualify for Morocco 2026, the first edition to feature 16 teams, with the top four earning automatic qualification to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
During the last WAFCON held in Cameroon in 2016, Harambee Starlets were pooled in Group B alongside Nigeria, who eventually won the title, Mali, and Ghana. They started their campaign with a 3-1 defeat against Ghana, before losing their matchday two fixture 3-1.
Kenya concluded their preliminary round fixtures without a win after going down 4-0 against Nigeria’s Super Falcons at Stade Omnisport de Limbe.
In another match played in Luanda, Angola and Malawi could not be separated in a 0-0 draw.
The Scorchers created the better chances, notably through Tabitha Chawinga, whose pace repeatedly stretched the Angolan back line. Twice, goalkeeper Rosa Ilunga produced the saves required to keep the hosts level.
