As the Harambee Starlets gear up for the CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship in Tanzania, defender Ruth Ingotsi says the regional tournament will be a vital litmus test ahead of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against Gambia.
Speaking after the team’s final training session at Kasarani Annex before their departure to Dar es Salaam, Ingotsi expressed confidence and optimism in the squad.
“Morale is high in camp. The girls are energetic, and we’re really looking forward to a great outing,” said the Cyprus-based centre-back.
“We want to use this tournament to correct our mistakes and gain more exposure ahead of the crucial clash with Gambia.”
The tournament, which kicks off on Friday, June 13, at the Azam Complex, will feature a round-robin format with five East African nations: Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, and hosts Tanzania.
The opening was delayed by a day due to logistical challenges, according to CECAFA Competitions Director Yusuf Mossi.
Kenya will open their campaign against Burundi on Sunday, June 15, followed by a clash with defending champions Uganda on Tuesday, June 17.
They will then face South Sudan on Thursday, June 19, before wrapping up the tournament against hosts Tanzania on Saturday, June 21.
The Starlets head into the tournament looking to bounce back from a rough patch. In their most recent outing, they suffered a 5-1 defeat to Morocco in a friendly played on June 4.
That loss followed back-to-back 2-0 defeats to Ivory Coast in April.
Despite the results, Ingotsi believes the experience has been valuable.
“We’ve learned a lot from the matches. The focus now is on using this platform to sharpen our game ahead of Gambia,” she said.
Goalkeeper Anedi Kundu echoed those sentiments, saying the team is hungry and ready for the challenge. “We expect to gain valuable experience and improve game by game,” she noted.
The CECAFA tournament will serve as a key preparation stage before Kenya takes on Gambia in the WAFCON third-round qualifier.
first leg is scheduled for October 20 in Nairobi, with the return leg also set for October 20 — a scheduling error yet to be clarified by officials.
The aggregate winner will qualify for the continental finals in Morocco, set to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
With pride and continental glory at stake, the Starlets are determined to make the most of their regional outing—and build momentum for the bigger battles ahead.
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