Mwanalima says Starlets to build on Lesotho win ahead of WAFCON

Harambee Starlets captain Mwanalima ‘Dogo’ Adam says their emphatic victory in Zambia against Lesotho at the Four Nations tournament is a perfect launchpad for their upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign in Morocco next month.

‎While a 6-0 goal fest against Lesotho would typically dominate the headlines, the skipper is already looking at the bigger picture, insisting the tournament served its ultimate purpose —building the tactical and mental toughness needed to face continental heavyweights.

‎​Adam noted that the dominant performance was less about the score line and more about a crucial statement of intent as Kenya prepares to travel to Morocco for their second ever appearance at the continental showpiece.

‎​"Our main target wasn’t just about winning matches here; it was about testing our readiness for WAFCON," Adam stated. "We wanted to see our tactical discipline, our clinical finishing, and how we handle tournament pressure. This win shows we are on the right track, but the real work begins now because Morocco, Algeria, and Senegal will offer a completely different challenge."

‎​The captain also praised the squad's immense character, pointing out how quickly the dressing room rallied to pivot from the painful opening-match penalty shootout heartbreak against Zambia to a ruthless six-goal masterclass.

For 'Dogo', that emotional maturity and come back ability is exactly what the Starlets will need when they land in North Africa.

‎​"Moving from penalty heartbreak to a ruthless performance demonstrates the exact mental character we need. It shows this team has developed the emotional maturity required for tournament football, the ability to shake off a loss and immediately execute a game plan," she added.

‎​Echoing his captain's forward-looking sentiments, Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba emphasized that the tournament provided the technical bench with the perfect gauge for squad depth and tactical flexibility.

‎The tactician added that while the clinical display against Lesotho was a confidence booster, the focus now completely shifts to strengthening further the squad's defensive transitions and maintaining high-intensity playstyle for the full 90 minutes ahead of the Morocco showdown.