Kenya coach Odemba reveals importance of FIFA Women’s Series

Kenya women’s national team coach Beldine Odemba has explained why the upcoming FIFA Women’s Series will be good for Harambee Starlets.

The East African nation is set to host the inaugural FIFA Women’s Series, bringing together four national teams for an international tournament to be held at Nyayo National Stadium.

Look who just pulled up to camp 👀#FIFASeriesWomenKe #FIFASeries pic.twitter.com/77YjNJGBkl

— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) April 8, 2026

The competition will feature Harambee Starlets alongside Australia, India, and Malawi, with matches scheduled from April 11 to April 15, 2026.

WAFCON postponement blessing in disguise

“The postponement of the WAFCON is now a blessing in disguise as it gives us time to prepare well,” said Odemba.

“It is exciting that we will host the FIFA series and will face big and established teams as well as the likes of Malawi who have qualified for WAFCON.

“We now have all the local players in camp and are just looking forward to the arrival of the internationals from Wednesday. The team is in transition and so the friendlies we are playing with are to ensure the team is gelling and everyone is up to speed.”

Kenya to open against India

The tournament will kick off on Saturday, April 11, with two matches lined up at Nyayo Stadium. Harambee Starlets will face India at 6.00 pm in the day’s headline fixture, while Australia will take on Malawi earlier at 2.00 pm at the same venue.

The tournament will conclude on Wednesday, April 15, with the third-place playoff set to be played at 2.00 pm, followed by the final at 6.00 pm to determine the inaugural FIFA Women’s Series champion.

Hosting the FIFA Women’s Series provides Kenya with an opportunity to strengthen key areas of football development beyond match play.

The tournament will support growth in event organisation, operational planning, and match officiating, while also offering valuable experience in managing international competitions.

This exposure contributes to building local capacity and aligning with global standards in tournament delivery.