Harambee Starlets may have prematurely kissed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) goodbye, but their spirited fight to return to the continental stage after a decade in the cold won the hearts of many and reignited dreams among girls who aspire to follow in their footsteps.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsStarlets, under the tutelage of Beldine Odemba, booked their place at the continental showpiece after seeing off The Gambia 4-1 on aggregate in the final qualifying round held in Senegal (neutral venue due to The Gambia's lack of a CAF-approved stadium) in October 2025.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883859##Their return to the big stage was a major milestone for women’s football in Kenya, marking only the second time the team had qualified for the WAFCON.Although their campaign in Morocco culminated in a group stage exit, following defeats to hosts Morocco, Senegal and Algeria, their impressive run through the qualifiers had already made an impact far beyond the results.Hundreds of kilometres away from the WAFCON spotlight, Starlets’ journey was being followed closely in the highlands of Elgeyo-Marakwet County.At Embobut Saints Starlets, a two-year-old women’s side comprising of young and middle-aged players, the national team’s return to the continental stage offered a glimpse of what lies ahead if they stay on course and pursue their dreams relentlessly.Inspired by Starlets’ journey, both during the qualifiers and at the WAFCON finals, the Embobut players now hope to double their efforts in a bid to produce the next generation of Harambee Starlets players from their own ranks.Coach Lydia Kipyatich narrated how the players remained glued to their television screens whenever the national team was in action, as the WAFCON matches were being beamed live on KBC Channel One.“My girls followed both the qualifiers and the WAFCON finals just to learn some lessons and see the kind of work they need to put in to catch up. Our ambition remains to produce players who will represent the national team in the next two years. Starlets’ qualification for the continental stage renewed our resolve, and seeing them compete at that level gave us hope that we can also have some of our own players there. We have been watching the national team, other teams at the WAFCON and other competitions to learn more about what it takes to reach that level,” said Kipyatich, who occasionally turns out as a defender for the club.Their ambition received a major boost when gaming firm, Mozzart Bet, in conjunction with the Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen (OKM) Foundation, visited the team at their base in the Sitat area.Through Mozzart Bet's initiative dubbed New Jersys for New Champions, the firm donated a full set of 23 playing uniforms, two footballs and a goal net, giving Kipyatich and her players the much-needed equipment to continue honing their skills as they pursue their dream of making it to the national team.Under the initiative, Mozzart Bet seeks to uplift grassroot-based clubs from all corners of the country through donating uniforms and FIFA-standard footballs."We thank Mozzart Bet and the OKM Foundation for visiting us and kitting the team. This will definitely fuel our dreams and most importantly, keep the girls on course," she remarked.While having Embobut born players in the national team remains the big objective, Kipyatich believes that the support will go a long way in inspiring the team to dominate local tournaments.The team is gearing up for the fourth edition of the Governor wa Raia Cup, with an ambition of bettering their last year's run where they fought to a fourth finish at the Marakwet East Sub-County level.“The support will also help us scout for more players and build a stronger team, as new talents will be attracted by how well organised and groomed the team is. At the same time, it will motivate the players to perform well in the forthcoming tournament and give them the confidence to work towards producing talents who can eventually feature in the FKF Women’s Premier League,” she added.
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