WAFCON: Kenya cancel Ivory Coast training camp after CAF decision

Kenya women national team have returned home from Ivory Coast where they had pitched camp to prepare for the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) which was slated for Morocco.

The team is departed on Saturday, February 28, for Abidjan, where they were scheduled to face Benin on March 2 and Ivory Coast on March 4. Kenya played the two friendly matches losing 2-0 against Benin and 1-0 against Ivory Coast.

Departure to Kenya 🛫#HarambeeStarlets #WAFCON2026 pic.twitter.com/DGxghWI4bE

— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) March 5, 2026

From Ivory Coast, Kenya was planned to travel to Miramas, France, for a residential training camp that was to run until March 15, before heading to Morocco for the continental tournament.

Harambee Starlets return home

However, Football Kenya Federation (FKF)confirmed in a statement the Harambee Starlets had already suspended their plans and returned home and promised to give further details on the team’s preparations for the tournament.

“Harambee Starlets have arrived back in Nairobi after playing two international friendlies in Ivory Coast against Benin and the hosts as part of their preparations for the 2026 WAFCON,” read part of the statement.

“Further details regarding the team’s preparations for the tournament, which was recently rescheduled by CAF to take place from 25 July to 16 August 2026, will be communicated in due course.”

CAF’s decision to reschedule the tournament was confirmed in a statement which read in part: “In October 2024, CAF granted hosting rights for the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to Morocco and this tournament was scheduled for 17 March to 3 April 2026.

“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the WAFCON 2026, to 25 July – 16 August 2026; to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances.

We are home 🇰🇪#WAFCON2026 #HarambeeStarlets pic.twitter.com/5loa6VfPtP

— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) March 6, 2026

“Preparations for the CAF WAFCON 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful.”

Kenya took part in 2016 edition in Cameroon

The 16th edition of the WAFCON was to be held in the North African nation for the third consecutive tournament, becoming the first country to achieve this feat. Venues in Casablanca, Fez and Rabat were to be used for the tournament.

Kenya were scheduled to make a return to the WAFCON since 2016 in Cameroon, where Starlets were drawn in Group B alongside Nigeria, Ghana, and Mali.

Kenya’s first match saw them lose 3-1 against the Black Queens, before they lost matchday two 3-1 against Mali. The third group match against the Super Falcons saw Kenya humiliated 4-0 to exit the stage without winning a game.

The 2026 WAFCON was to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026. Kenya were to open their Group A campaign against hosts Morocco on March 17. The Starlets were then to face Senegal on March 20 before concluding the group stage against Algeria on March 23.