Kenya’s Harambee Starlets will receive Ksh 19.4 million from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after finishing fourth in Group A at the just-concluded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The amount, equivalent to USD 150,000, is a guaranteed participation fee paid to all 16 teams that took part in the tournament, regardless of their performance on the pitch.
While the Starlets left the competition without a point and without scoring a goal, the record prize pool for the 2026 edition ensured that every participating nation earned a substantial financial reward.
Kenya Bags WAFCON Millions
The tournament, which ran from late July to August 16, saw Cameroon lift the trophy for the first time after defeating debutant finalists Malawi 3-0 in Rabat.
CAF had announced before the competition that it was increasing the total prize fund by 67 percent to USD 5.8 million, or about Ksh 750 million, as part of efforts to grow women’s football on the continent.
The winners took home USD 2 million (Ksh 258.4 million), runners-up received USD 750,000 (Ksh 96.9 million), third-placed Algeria got USD 550,000 (Ksh 71.1 million), and fourth-placed Morocco earned USD 300,000 (Ksh 38.8 million).
Kenya’s payout came solely from the participation clause, since the team did not advance beyond the group stage.
Kenya was drawn in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Algeria, and Senegal, in what was widely seen as a tough group.
The Starlets opened their campaign on July 27 with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Morocco at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Moroccan forward Ibtissam Jraïdi scored twice in the match, setting the tone for Kenya’s difficult tournament.
In their second match on July 30, Kenya faced Senegal and lost 1-0, with Seynabou Mbengue scoring the only goal in the first half.
The narrow defeat kept Kenya at the bottom of the group with zero points and zero goals scored after two games.
The final group match came on August 3, when Kenya played Algeria at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
Algeria, already assured of a quarter-final spot, fielded a strong side and won 2-0 through first-half goals from Marine Dafeur and Lynda Bendris.
The result confirmed Kenya’s elimination from the tournament with three losses, zero goals for, and seven goals against.
Only the top two teams advanced to the quarter-finals, leaving Kenya and Senegal to exit the competition at the group stage.
The early exit sparked mixed reactions from fans and media in Kenya.
Some supporters expressed disappointment over the team’s performance, while others called for more investment in women’s football, including better preparation, more competitive fixtures, and improved domestic leagues.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) acknowledged the challenges and pledged to review the team’s preparation and planning ahead of the next qualifying cycle.
WAFCON History, Records and Winners
First held in 1991, the tournament has grown into the continent’s biggest stage for women’s football and serves as a pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Kenya’s best performance at WAFCON remains a group-stage appearance, having qualified for and competed in the 2016 and 2026 editions but failing to advance to the knockout rounds on both occasions.
Nigeria remains the most successful nation in the history of the tournament, having won a record 12 titles.
Equatorial Guinea are the only other multiple-time champions with two crowns, while South Africa and Cameroon have each lifted the trophy once.
Since its inception, Nigeria has dominated WAFCON, winning the first seven editions between 1991 and 2006 before adding further titles in 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2025.
Equatorial Guinea broke Nigeria’s dominance by triumphing in 2008 and 2012, while South Africa won their maiden title in 2022 after beating hosts Morocco in the final.
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