Harambee Starlets will be hoping to make history and keep their slim Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final hopes alive when they take on Algeria in their final Group A match at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Monday night, August 3. Kenya find themselves at the bottom of the Group A standings after successive defeats in their opening two matches. Beldine Odemba’s side began their campaign with a heavy 4-0 loss to hosts Morocco before producing a much-improved performance in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Senegal.#
The results have left the Starlets without a point, but they are still mathematically in contention for a place in the knockout rounds, albeit requiring a near-perfect sequence of results.Making only their second appearance at Africa’s premier women’s football tournament after their debut in 2016, the Starlets are still searching for their first-ever WAFCON victory. Monday’s encounter therefore presents an opportunity to end a 10-year wait for a maiden win on the continental stage while keeping their faint hopes of progression alive.
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Standing in their way is an Algerian side enjoying an impressive campaign.The Fennecs sit second in Group A on four points after opening their tournament with a goalless draw against hosts Morocco before registering a convincing 2-0 victory over Senegal.Another positive result against Kenya would all but guarantee their place in the quarter-finals.History slightly favours the North Africans.
Monday’s clash will be the fifth meeting between the two sides, with Algeria unbeaten in the previous four encounters.Harambee Starlets still optimistic of WAFCON progression ahead of final group matchThree of those meetings ended in draws before Algeria claimed victory in the teams’ two-legged international friendlies earlier this year.For Kenya to qualify, the Starlets must produce one of the biggest results in their history.They need to defeat Algeria by at least four goals while hoping Morocco beat Senegal in the other Group A fixture.
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Even then, qualification could still hinge on goal difference and the ranking of the best third-placed teams if sides finish level on points. Algeria’s qualification equation is much more straightforward. A victory would secure automatic qualification to the quarter-finals, while a draw could also be enough to send them through, depending on the outcome of the Morocco-Senegal encounter.
With qualification still on the line for both teams, the North Africans have every reason to approach the contest with confidence.As both sides still have plenty to play for, an open and fiercely contested affair is expected in the 11:00 p.m. kick-off. Kenya will be driven by the desire to secure a historic first WAFCON victory, while Algeria know another positive result could see them extend their stay in Morocco. All eyes will also be on the simultaneous Group A showdown between Morocco and Senegal, a fixture that could prove decisive in determining the final standings.