Harambee Starlets ready to conquer WAFCON after Miramas camp

The national women's team travelled to France on July 15 for a week-long training camp, where they are in the final phase of preparations before heading to Morocco on July 23 for the continental tournament from July 26 to August 16.

Kenya will begin their Group ‘A’ campaign against hosts Morocco on July 26 before facing Senegal and Algeria.

Defender Marion Serenge believes the work done in France has given the squad every reason to aim high.

"We have trained well, the training facilities are also good and we are just continuing to push ourselves knowing we will achieve our goals," she said.

Serenge said the players are united by one ambition as they prepare for Kenya's second appearance at WAFCON.

"As a team, we are planning to reach the semi-finals. The way we have prepared, we believe that we are going to reach the semi-finals because we have that belief."

Furthermore, she added that the team has drawn inspiration from the recent success of the men's national side.

"We believe in ourselves. As the boys made it, we can also make it," she said.

Forward Fasila Adhiambo also described the France camp as a valuable experience despite the players having to adjust to a different environment.

"The experience here has been good and the training sessions have been good. Everyone is fighting, though there are things we aren't used to yet, like the food, but everyone is fighting. The grounds are good so it's a good experience for us as we go to AFCON. It gives us something we can fight for," she said.

The winger, who is preparing for her first WAFCON tournament, said she hopes to make an impact whenever called upon.

"My personal goal is to keep delivering crosses and if God blesses me with a goal for my team, that will be a plus for me. It's my first tournament, so I expect a lot from myself and just want to do what the coaches expect."

Adhiambo said the team's objective has remained unchanged since reporting to residential camp at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

"Since we started camp back in Kasarani, it has been one goal for the technical bench and the players. Reaching the semi-finals will be the best for us to even go to the World Cup and we are hoping because everything has been provided for us, so it's up to us to deliver," she said.

Having completed weeks of preparation in Kasarani and France, the focus now shifts from training to delivering on the pitch with the Harambee Starlets confident they have done enough to compete for a place in the WAFCON semi-finals.