Harambee Starlets’ WAFCON hopes suffer blow after narrow Senegal defeat

Harambee Starlets’ hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations suffered a major setback after they lost 1-0 to Senegal in their second Group A match on Thursday night.

Seynabou Mbengue’s 35th-minute strike proved decisive at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, with Senegal holding on for a hard-fought victory despite sustained pressure from Kenya, particularly in the second half.

The defeat leaves the Starlets without a point from their opening two matches following their 4-0 loss to hosts Morocco in their tournament opener.

Kenya now face a must-win final group fixture against Algeria on August 3, with their hopes of reaching the knockout stage hanging by a thread.

The Starlets started brightly and looked determined to put their heavy defeat to Morocco behind them.

They created the first promising opportunity in the seventh minute after breaking into the Senegalese penalty area, but the defence recovered quickly to block the effort.

Kenya continued to apply pressure and won a free-kick just outside the penalty area in the 17th minute. Mwanalima Adam stepped up, but her effort was comfortably dealt with by the Senegalese defence.

The Starlets threatened again in the 19th and 20th minutes, creating promising openings, but Senegal goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye stood firm to deny Kenya.

Senegal gradually grew into the contest and began testing the Kenyan defence. In the 24th minute, the Teranga Lionesses created a dangerous opening, but Kenya’s backline cleared the danger.

Two minutes later, Lilian Awuor was called into action, producing a crucial save to keep Senegal at bay.

The West Africans continued to apply pressure and nearly broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, but a lack of composure in the final third allowed Kenya to survive.

Senegal eventually found the breakthrough in the 35th minute when Mbengue capitalised on the pressure to put the Lionesses of Teranga 1-0 ahead.

Kenya responded immediately, with Terry Engesha coming close to an equaliser on the counterattack, but Ndiaye made another important save.

Senegal almost doubled their advantage before the break, but Awuor produced a superb save in the 44th minute to keep Kenya within touching distance.

The Starlets then went on the attack, with Engesha again testing the Senegalese defence before Fasila Adhiambo forced Ndiaye into action with a well-struck effort shortly before half-time.

Kenya returned from the break with renewed urgency, pushing Senegal deeper into their own half as they searched for an equaliser.

However, the Starlets repeatedly struggled with their decision-making in the final third. Misplaced passes and poor execution frustrated their attempts to break through the Senegalese defence.

Kenya came close again in the 61st minute when substitute Marion Serenge’s effort drifted narrowly wide.

The pressure intensified as the match progressed, with Kenya committing more players forward in search of an equaliser.

The Starlets came agonisingly close in the 67th minute when Shilwatso and Engesha both struck the post in quick succession.

Engesha was denied by the woodwork again in the 77th minute after making a superb run and sliding her effort past the Senegal goalkeeper, only for the ball to crash against the post.

Despite creating several opportunities, Kenya could not find the finishing touch needed to rescue a point.

Senegal defended resolutely during the closing stages as the Starlets committed numbers forward, holding on to secure their first points of the tournament.

The result leaves Kenya bottom of Group A without a point from two matches, while Senegal move to three points.

The Starlets’ quarter-final hopes now depend on a favourable result in the Morocco-Algeria clash before their final group match.

For Kenya to remain in contention, Morocco would need to defeat Algeria, leaving Senegal and Algeria on three points while Morocco move to six.

The Starlets would then need to beat Algeria convincingly in their final match and hope Morocco defeat Senegal, potentially creating a three-way tie on three points, with qualification decided by goal difference.

Kenya will therefore head into their final group fixture on August 3 knowing that nothing short of a big victory will keep their quarter-final dream alive.