OPINION: Harambee Starlets were let down long before the first kick in Morocco

The debate surrounding Harambee Starlets' disappointing campaign at the ongoing 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations has either quickly shifted to whether head coach Beldine Odemba should keep her job or is being made to do so by those responsible for the disappointing results.

That conversation may satisfy public frustration, but it risks creating a convenient scapegoat while the real causes of Kenya's struggles remain untouched.

The Starlets' 4-0 defeat to hosts Morocco was humiliating, results that have since given unending nightmares. Their 1-0 loss to Senegal, in what can be equated as a last nail on their coffin, left their hopes hanging by a thread ahead of the final Group A match against Algeria coming up on August 3. Yet those results were not born in Morocco. They are the outcome of years of neglect, inconsistent planning and inadequate investment in women's football.

One of the biggest failures has been player welfare. Reports of delayed allowances before the tournament once again highlighted a recurring problem that has haunted the women's game. Even when payments are eventually made, uncertainty over financial commitments creates unnecessary anxiety. Elite athletes preparing for Africa's biggest stage should be focused on opponents and tactics, not whether promises made to them will be honoured.

Preparation also raises uncomfortable questions. For instance, Harambee Starlets travelled to France for a pre-tournament training camp, but did not play a single international friendly. A training camp without competitive matches leaves coaches guessing and players untested. Football at the highest level demands exposure to match pressure, not just tactical drills on the training ground.

The problems extend beyond the national team. Kenya's women's football ecosystem remains underdeveloped. The Kenyan Women Football continues to produce talented players, but it lacks the financial strength, competitiveness and professional standards found in the continent's leading leagues. Many players still juggle football with work or studies because the sport cannot provide a sustainable livelihood. That gap inevitably shows when Kenya faces nations whose players compete in fully professional environments.

Against that backdrop, calls to dismiss Odemba miss the bigger picture. Coaches should always be accountable for results, but no coach can build a stronger domestic league, ensure timely player payments, secure quality international friendlies or create a professional football structure. Replacing the coach without addressing those underlying shortcomings would simply change the face on the touchline while preserving the same broken system.

Kenya has already shown through the Junior Starlets that talent is not in short supply. What is missing is a clear pathway that supports players from youth football into a competitive senior environment.

If there is one lesson from WAFCON 2026, it is that qualification alone is no longer enough. Kenya must invest in a stronger domestic league, improve player welfare, prioritise meaningful international preparation and treat women's football as a long-term project rather than an occasional national concern.

The scoreboard in Morocco has revealed more than defeats. It has exposed the cost of years of underinvestment.

Harambee Starlets were not simply beaten by better teams.

They were let down long before they kicked a ball in Morocco.