Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has revealed the two key areas her side has focused on as they look to breathe new life into their 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign against Senegal on Thursday.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsKenya returns to action at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, seeking to erase the memories of a 4-0 defeat to hosts Morocco in their Group A opener, with kickoff scheduled for 8 pm East African Time.The clash has all the ingredients of an early final for both teams.##NAJAVA_MECA_9869963##Senegal's Teranga Lionesses also stumbled at the first hurdle, falling 2-0 to Algeria, leaving Thursday's encounter as a pivotal battle in the race for a place in the knockout stages.Speaking ahead of the match on Wednesday, Odemba said her technical bench has placed special emphasis on rebuilding the players' confidence while ensuring they are mentally prepared for the challenge that awaits."The main area has been working on the players mentally to ensure they are ready in the right frame of mind. They are technically and tactically prepared, so we want them to be motivated, confident and ready to face the next opponent," she said.Kenya eyes CECAFA Challenge Cup to usher in matches at Talanta StadiumBeyond the psychological aspect, the former Kenya Police Bullets coach revealed that her side has also tailored its preparations to deal with Senegal's physical style of play."Tactically, we have analyzed how they played their first match. They are a physical side, but we are ready and capable of matching them. Senegal are also looking for their first win, so it won't be an easy game."The gaffer, who guided Kenya Police Bullets to an unbeaten Kenya Women's Premier League title, also challenged her players to be more clinical in front of goal after wasting promising opportunities against Morocco.##NAJAVA_MECA_9867727##The Starlets may have been bruised in their opening outing, but Odemba believes sharper finishing could turn their fortunes around."We must improve on converting our chances. We created two clear opportunities early in the match against Morocco and failed to capitalize on them.We are looking for a composed performance. If we concede first, how will we react? Concentration will be key. We want to create more chances and be able to capitalize," she added.STARS ABROAD: Harambee Stars midfielder keeps UEFA Champions League dream alive with Armenian sideVictory over Senegal would throw Kenya's WAFCON campaign back on track and keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.Defeat, however, would leave the Starlets staring at an early exit with only one group match remaining.Thursday's encounter will mark the first-ever meeting between Kenya and Senegal at senior women's international level, adding another layer of intrigue to a contest where both sides have little room for error.##NAJAVA_MECA_9868315##
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