Harambee Starlets goalkeeper Lilian Awuor is confident that Kenya can bounce back from the 4-0 defeat to hosts Morocco and keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive at the 2026 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Awuor, who plays for Farul Constanța in the Romanian Women's Premier League, produced several crucial saves to prevent an even heavier loss. Despite the disappointing result, she believes the team has what it takes to respond positively in their remaining two Group A matches against Senegal and Algeria.
"We gave our best, but the outcome was not what we wanted. Going into the next match, we will correct the mistakes we made against Morocco. I want to assure Kenyans that we will fight for a win against Senegal. We struggled to settle in the first half and conceded three goals, but after that we improved, identified our mistakes and made the necessary adjustments," she said.
Awuor, the only player in the current squad who featured during Kenya's maiden WAFCON appearance in 2016, insists the team's confidence and belief remain intact despite the opening setback.
"Our confidence is still there and the motivation remains high. Our objective is still to reach the semi-finals. One defeat does not mean everything is over. We still have hope because we have two matches left to play," she added.
Coach Beldine Odemba's side now faces a must-win encounter against Senegal, who also lost 2-0 in their opening match against Algeria. Kenya will need positive results in their remaining group matches to stand a chance of progressing, with only the top two teams from the group advancing to the knockout stage.
Kenya will take on Senegal on July 30 at the Olympic Stadium, with a kick-off scheduled for 11pm Kenyan time. Earlier in the day, hosts Morocco will renew rivalry with Algeria at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium from 8pm Kenyan time.
Elsewhere in Group B, Tanzania claimed an important 2-1 victory over former champions South Africa to boost their qualification hopes.
Attention shifts to Group C on July 28, where Zambia will meet Egypt at the Olympic Stadium from 8pm Kenyan time, while 10-time champions Nigeria will take on debutants Malawi at Al Madina Stadium from 11pm Kenyan time.
