Harambee Starlets face a daunting challenge in the second leg of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations first-round qualifiers after being held to a goalless draw by Tunisia.The draw leaves Kenya with much to do in the return leg as they aim to secure a spot in the continental showpiece.FTKenya 0⃣-0⃣ TunisiaA big second leg awaits! #HarambeeStarlets pic.twitter.com/wJtNgKWiAE— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) February 21, 2025 Kenya’s only previous appearance at the WAFCON came in 2016, where they qualified via the away-goals rule after drawing 2-2 in Algiers and 1-1 at home against Algeria.The Starlets will need a similar show of resilience in the second leg to overcome Tunisia.In this piece, Mozzart Sport takes a deeper look at Friday’s draw, and why goals were hard to find for Kenya.WAFCON Q: Wasteful Harambee Starlets held at homeFormationsCoach Beldine Odemba deployed Lillian Awuor in goal, with Enez Mango at left-back and Janet Mumo at right-back.In central defense, veteran Dorcas Shikobe partnered with Ruth Ingosi. Corazone Aquino and Lavender Akinyi operated as the central midfield double pivot, while Fasila Adhiambo was given a more advanced role in the attacking midfield.On the wings, Mwanahalima Adam and Elizabeth Wambui provided width, with Cynthia Shilwatso leading the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation.Tunisia, under coach Sana Abid, lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.Zohra Jelassi was in goal, while Ella Kabaachi and Guermazi Sana played as fullbacks. Yosra Ben Haji Mahmoud and Salma Zemzem formed the central defensive partnership.Sabrine Elouzi held the midfield as a single pivot, with Rania Aouina and Myriam Bayahia offering support.Chaima Alabbassi and Samia Ouni played as wingers, while Chirine Lamti led the line as the lone striker.##NAJAVA_MECA_8726918##Tactical AnalysisFrom the outset, Harambee Starlets aimed to play direct football, seeking to exploit the wide areas where Wambui and Mwanahalima had a pace advantage.Both players are excellent in 1v1 situations, but Wambui thrives in space, making her runs behind the defense, while Mwanahalima is more comfortable in tight spaces.The strategy initially paid off, with Wambui using her pace to beat defenders, but her crosses were often too high or over-hit, leaving her teammates with little opportunity to convert.A major issue with this approach was the lack of bodies in the box.Despite the wide play, there were too few Starlets in the area to capitalize on the crosses, making it easier for Tunisia’s defense to deal with them. The Starlets also attempted quick restarts to catch Tunisia off guard.Adhiambo, in particular, benefited from a quick throw-in from Mumo in the first half, but failed to finish after Tunisia’s goalkeeper Jelassi came out swiftly to avert the danger.Mariga tips Harambee Stars midfielder to flourish in Champions League after multi-million move in EuropeAfter the cooling break at the 30-minute mark, Coach Odemba made a tactical shift, instructing Mumo to play as an inverted fullback instead of an overlapping one.This change was crucial, as Mumo’s previous overlapping runs often put her in the same zone as Wambui, causing congestion and disrupting possession.By tucking inside, Mumo offered more balance in midfield, which helped the Starlets regain control and create better chances.This adjustment resulted in Mumo’s first shot on target, though it was easily saved by Jelassi.Despite this improvement in possession, Kenya struggled to capitalize on their dominance, and the first half ended 0-0.Spain-based Wanjala confident in Rising Stars World Cup chancesIn the second half, Odemba made another change, bringing on Elizabeth Mideva for Adhiambo. The substitution pushed Shilwatso into the number 10 role, and Mideva into the center-forward position.This tactical switch increased Kenya’s attacking threat, with Shilwatso now in better range to attempt her long-range shots, a strength of hers.The tactical shift also saw Mango push higher up the pitch, while Mwanahalima tucked into the half-space, creating overloads both centrally and out wide.This allowed the Starlets to make runs behind Tunisia’s defense.One such run by Mwanahalima almost resulted in a penalty, as she was taken out by the goalkeeper after getting to the ball first, though the referee waved play on.WAFCON QUALIFIERS: A big second leg awaits after the @harambee___starlets share spoils in Tunisia! #WAFCON2025Q #CecafaRegion pic.twitter.com/bV0nvJmCl7— CECAFAWOMEN (@cecafawomen) February 21, 2025 Overall, Kenya’s game plan was heavily reliant on direct play and wing dominance, though they lacked the necessary numbers in the box to fully exploit their wide attacks.Tunisia, on the other hand, set up in a low block, playing for minimal risk and attempting to capitalize on set pieces and transitional moments.They disrupted the Starlets’ rhythm by slowing the game down and creating fouls to stop the flow of play.How former Kariobangi Sharks winger intends to cure language barrier in FranceTunisia’s most threatening moment came early in the second half when Aouni’s free kick struck the crossbar with Awuor beaten, a near-miss that could have changed the complexion of the game.As the match ended goalless, the Starlets were left frustrated but aware that they must improve their finishing and build on their possession dominance if they are to progress.With Tunisia’s defense looking resilient, and their counter-attacking threat always lurking, the second leg will be a real test of Kenya’s ability to break down a stubborn opponent and capitalize on their attacking opportunities.
