arambee Starlets Run Riot, Thrash Seychelles 11-0 in Olympic Qualifier

NAIROBI, Kenya, Thursday, October 8, 2026: Kenya’s Harambee Starlets opened their road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games in emphatic style, demolishing Seychelles 11-0 in the first leg of their second-round CAF qualifier at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.

Valary Nekesa set the tone with the opening goal early in the first half. She added a second just before the break to put Kenya 3-0 up at half-time. The Starlets then took the game away from the visitors after the restart, scoring eight more goals. They were 5-0 up by the 62nd minute and 7-0 by the 83rd, and added more before the final whistle.

Elizabeth Muteshi also scored twice. Airin Madalina, Martha Amunyolete, Elizabeth Mideva and Mercy Airo were also among the scorers as Kenya overwhelmed a Seychelles side with no answer to their pace and movement.

The result was a statement for a team still smarting from a difficult group-stage exit at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in August. It also comes close to Kenya’s record 12-0 victory over Djibouti in 2019.

Interim head coach Godfrey “Solo” Oduor, newly appointed to the role, made several changes to the side that featured at Wafcon. He recalled forwards Jentrix Shikangwa and Corazone Aquino, and gave opportunities to fresh talent. Several experienced players were left out, and the changes paid off.

With an 11-goal cushion, Kenya are all but through. The return leg is on Monday, October 12, 2026. The aggregate winner will advance to the third round to face the winner of the Malawi vs Zimbabwe tie.