FIFA Series: Kenya coach psyched up ahead of Australia clash

Kenya women’s national team coach Beldine Odemba has admitted to being excited with the opportunity to face Australia in their FIFA Women’s Series encounter at Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday.

By virtue of beating India 2-0, Harambee Starlets will come up against an Australian side, who defeated Malawi 5-0 in the other fixture.

Next match 🇰🇪

FIFA Series – Women Finale

Harambee Starlets 🆚 Australia 🇰🇪🆚🇦🇺
📅 Wednesday, April 15
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Nyayo National Stadium

Be there to back the girls 🙌🇰🇪

https://t.co/SxO8Nuae99#FIFASeriesWomenKe #FIFASeries pic.twitter.com/V5sCBjTfBW

— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) April 14, 2026

Goals from Emily Van Egmond, Sam Kerr, Alex Chidiac, Holly McNamara, and Leticia McKenna secured the dominant victory in Nairobi.

‘You must play against big teams’

“We are going to play against them (Australia) for the first time, and we have prepared to play against them, and we are happy to play against a tough opponent,” Odemba said as quoted by Flashscore.

“I once said to be a big team, you must play against big teams, so, we are happy that it’s happening. It will be lessons for us, it will be a good moment for our players, big moment for the country, and for me as coach to play against a world class team, eight times in World Cup.”

Odemba added: “The girls understand they are playing against big names; they also understand they are playing against a team that is far better than us, and it’s a tactical team, and to play against a tactical team, you have to prepare tactically, and also to play a tactical game. We have prepared all the aspects.

Good test for Harambee Starlets

“It is a good thing we are playing such teams because we are preparing to play such teams. We want to get there, and we cannot get there by not playing such teams or by playing teams that are better ranked than us.

“This is a good test for us, and winning this game, drawing, losing, which we are not going to talk about now because it is not in our vocabulary at the moment, is a big lesson, and is a big step forward for women’s football.

“So, it is good to see what it feels to play against what the world knows as giants. We need moments like this to show what we are made of.”

Australia is a three-time OFC champion, one-time AFC champion and one-time AFF champion.

The team has represented Australia at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on eight occasions (once as co-host in 2023) and at the Olympic Games on five, although it has won neither tournament.