The Harambee Starlets midfielder shares her confidence and determination as Kenya prepares for a crucial WAFCON qualification showdown.

Harambee Starlets midfielder Lydia Akoth has expressed confidence and determination as the national women’s football team gears up for a decisive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualification clash against The Gambia later this month. 

The Kenyan side is just one step away from sealing a return to the continental showpiece for the second time in history, and Akoth says the players are fully focused on making it happen.

Akoth, who currently plies her trade with Tanzanian giants Yanga Princesses, is among 39 players named in the provisional squad by head coach Beldine Odemba. 

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The midfielder believes that the team’s recent cohesion and morale put them in a strong position to overcome The Gambia and earn a coveted spot in next year’s WAFCON tournament.

“It is something we have been thinking about and it is on our minds day in day out. We want to continue from where we stopped in the last round when we beat Tunisia, a very tough opponent. For us, we want to give our best so that we qualify for the WAFCON. We want to step on that pitch over those 180 minutes with our minds and hearts focused on achieving that target,” Akoth stated in the interview with Telecomasia.net.

Akoth’s optimism mirrors the mood in the Starlets’ camp, where the players are keen to emulate the class of 2016 — the only Kenyan women’s side to have ever qualified for the continental finals. That historic achievement not only lifted the profile of women’s football in Kenya but also opened international doors for several players.

“That would mean a lot for us. It would not only be a massive piece of history for our country and our CVs, but it will also open many doors for women’s football in Kenya. There will be more opportunities for players to move outside, just like we saw when the team qualified in 2016. That is what is driving us; to change our futures and the future of Kenyan women’s football. We believe it is a huge possibility and we are working towards that,” added the former Police Bullets midfielder.

Kenya’s journey to this stage has not been easy. The Starlets have had to overcome tough opposition and logistical challenges, but Odemba’s squad now appears more united and mentally stronger. 

The Starlets are not just playing for qualification — they are playing for national pride and the future of Kenyan women’s football.

If Kenya triumphs, it will mark a defining moment in their resurgence, reigniting hope for a new era of dominance on the African stage.