By Kalumiana Kalumiana
Kenya women’s national team coach Beldine Odemba believes 4-nations friendly tournament hosts and opponents Zambia will give them a test of how ready they are for next month’s 2026 WAFCON.
Zambia is hosting Lesotho, Zimbabwe and fellow 2026 WAFCON-bound side Kenya in the 4-nations to be held at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola from June 6-9.
Odemba told Kenya FA media that they are looking forward to seeing just how far they are ready for the 2026 WAFCON that Morocco is going to host from July 26 to August 16.
“We want to use this tournament to gauge ourselves and see how ready we are for WAFCON. We have a good team that is putting in the hard work required to be at its best before we go to Morocco, and so far I am pleased with what I have seen from the players,” Odemba said.
The 4 Nations tournament will be played in a semifinal knockout format that will see Zimbabwe and Lesotho clashing in the opening fixture on June 6 at 12h30 at Levy Stadium.
Kenya and Zambia will meet in the second kickoff at the same venue at 15h00.
The winners will play in the final on June 9 at 18h00, which will come after the third- and fourth-place playoff at 15h00.
Zambia are also using 4-nations as penultimate phase preparations for their 2026 WAFCON, where they will be making their third successive appearance.
Zambia is in Group C at the WAFCON, where they will face Malawi, Egypt and defending champions Nigeria.
The top two finishers from each of the four groups advance to the quarterfinals, and the four semifinalists will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
But the four losing quarterfinalists will meet in a playoff to decide the two teams that will go to the intercontinental final playoffs, where three teams will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
