Kenya, Malawi see FIFA Series as perfect launchpad towards TotalEnergies WAFCON, Morocco 2026
Kenya’s Harambee Starlets and Malawi’s Scorchers are looking at the inaugural edition of the FIFA Women’s Football Series set for Nairobi as a perfect launchpad towards their TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Morocco 2026 campaign.
Kenya will be playing at the Continental showpiece for the second time in history, and first time since their 2016 appearance, while Malawi are making their debut in the tournament.
The two African nations have landed worthy opposition in the FIFA Women’s Series, an inaugural women’s football tournament involving 16 teams and held across four countries.
The Nyayo National Stadium in Kenya’s capital Nairobi will be one of the host countries. The home side and their COSAFA neighbors hope to make an impression. Kenya faces India while Malawi will take on Oceania giants Australia on Saturday evening, with winners of the two matches set to face off in the final on Thursday.
Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba sees the matches as a massive chance to weigh just how well her girls have evolved over the last few months since their qualification.
“These matches are really important especially when you play a big opponent. They help you to see your squad and their competitive nature, and it will be a massive platform to solidify our preparations for the WAFCON. The teams in the Series are really good and it is a good yardstick to measure ourselves,” Odemba says.
Her sentiments are shared by skipper Mwanahalima Adam, who has been crucial for the team in both historical WAFCON qualifications. “It is a privilege and a good motivation to play such opponents especially those from another continent. For us, this is a good opportunity to prepare for the WAFCON. We want to see how well we can compete against top teams and that helps us to know what we need to adjust before the competition.”
Malawi, believe as well that this will be a motivation for them ahead of their Continental debut. Though missing his two star players Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga who are out with injury, head coach Fazili Lovemore hopes this can be an opportunity to increase his squad depth and give other players a competitive chance to step up.
“This is a very important platform for us, especially as we prepare for WAFCON. We believe we are a strong side capable of competing against top opposition, and this presents a perfect opportunity to prove that, particularly against teams from outside our continent.”
“Our aim is to compete at the highest level and finish at the top. At the same time, it’s a valuable chance to learn, showcase our quality, and measure ourselves against elite teams. It will also give us a clear picture of where we stand and what we need to improve as we head into WAFCON,” the coach said.
Sweden-based midfielder Faith Chinzimu believes the two matches in Kenya offer them a chance to measure up and learn, ahead of their maiden Continental sojourn.
“This is a great platform and we are ready to face new opposition. It is a chance to learn from others and compete. We love the opportunity that this brings and it will also help boost our confidence ahead of the WAFCON. These two games will help us understand where we are as a team,” Chinzimu, who plays club football at BK Hacken adds.
Malawi takes on Australia’s Matildas, who will be playing in the African continent for the first time. Head coach Joe Montemurro is cherishing the opportunity to face African opposition, saying it will be a good challenge for his players.
“I’m grateful to FIFA and the Kenyan FA for giving us this opportunity to be here. It’s an important step for us as we continue building towards the World Cup. These matches are extremely valuable for our growth, and we are truly honored to be part of this experience,” the coach said.
Midfielder Amy Sayer echoes her coach’s sentiments;
“The players are excited to be here, as this is an important part of our World Cup preparations. We are coming up against new opposition in a different environment and on a new continent, which makes the challenge even more exciting for us.”
“It’s a great opportunity to continue building our national team on the international stage, and we are looking forward to putting in a strong performance.”
The last match of the first day of the series will see home girls Kenya take on India, who are fresh from the Asian Cup and will look to give a good account.
Coach Chrispine Chetri says he wants to see how well his girls can compete despite only a short turnaround from their Asian Cup campaign and travel to Nairobi. “We have a very young but promising side and this is the perfect chance for them to show how well they can compete. Kenya is playing at home and will be a good opponent for us,” the coach added.
Kenya is hosting an international women’s series for the first time ever, and the excitement is already buzzing around the capital.