Former Harambee Stars head coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee has come to the defence of Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba following Kenya’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Mulee has urged Kenyans and football stakeholders to look beyond the team’s early exit and instead consider the bigger picture of Kenya’s return to Africa’s premier women’s football tournament.
The former national team coach believes the Starlets’ participation in the tournament should be viewed as part of a rebuilding process after Kenya spent 10 years away from the WAFCON stage.
Mulee Defends Beldine Odemba
Odemba has come under scrutiny following the Starlets’ winless campaign at the continental tournament, with questions raised over her future as head coach.
However, Mulee believes it would be unfair to place the blame solely on the coach.
He argued that coaching a national team at the highest level is a difficult responsibility and said Odemba should be given time to implement her plans.
“We have been out of this tournament for ten good years; everybody criticizes yet this is one of the toughest jobs,” Mulee said.
According to the former Harambee Stars coach, Odemba understands her team better than outside critics and should not be blamed entirely for the results.
“The coach has a plan and knows what is best for the team so we cannot blame her for the poor run,” he added.
Kenya Returned to WAFCON After 10 Years
Mulee’s comments come after Kenya finally returned to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations following a decade-long absence.
The qualification itself represented a significant milestone for women’s football in Kenya, even though the team’s performance in Morocco fell short of expectations.
Mulee believes the focus should therefore not be limited to mistakes made during the tournament.
He urged supporters to recognise the achievement of qualifying and competing against some of the continent’s strongest women’s teams.
“We must also note the step our women football has made on the international stage by qualifying for the tournament and not only looking for mistakes,” he said.
WAFCON Experience Valuable for Starlets
Mulee also highlighted the importance of exposing Kenyan players to high-level international competition.
According to him, playing at WAFCON provides players with an opportunity to learn from some of Africa’s best footballers while gaining experience that can benefit the national team in future competitions.
“Playing at a bigger stage like WAFCON is something that motivates the players and makes them believe that they can also do it,” Mulee said.
He added that the tournament allows players to gain valuable experience and learn new tactical approaches from their opponents.
For a team that had been absent from the continental tournament for 10 years, Mulee believes the exposure could prove important in the long-term development of Kenyan women’s football.
Junior Starlets Give Kenya Hope
Mulee also pointed to the progress of Kenya’s Junior Starlets as another indication that women’s football in the country could be heading in the right direction.
The Under-17 women’s national team has qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, providing another major international opportunity for young Kenyan players.
Mulee believes the achievement should encourage stakeholders to invest more heavily in women’s football development.
He said Kenya needs to examine the progress being made at different levels of the women’s game and identify what needs to be done to take the sport to another level.
“There is something that women football in Kenya has that needs to be discussed so that we move to the next level,” he added.
FKF to Review Odemba’s Performance
Despite Mulee’s support, Odemba’s position remains under scrutiny.
The FKF technical committee is expected to review her performance following the Starlets’ winless WAFCON campaign.
The review could determine the next direction for the women’s national team as Kenya looks to build on its return to the continental stage.
For Mulee, however, the immediate priority should be development rather than reacting solely to tournament results.
His comments are likely to reignite debate among Kenyan football fans over whether national team coaches should be judged primarily by short-term results or given time to build competitive teams.
What Next for Harambee Starlets?
Kenya’s WAFCON campaign has exposed areas that need improvement, but the team’s qualification also demonstrated the potential within the country’s women’s football system.
With the Junior Starlets preparing for the U-17 World Cup and the senior team having returned to the continental stage, stakeholders now face the challenge of turning these opportunities into sustained progress.
For Mulee, supporting coaches, developing players and providing regular international exposure could be crucial to ensuring Kenya does not have to wait another decade for a WAFCON appearance.
The debate over Odemba’s future will continue as FKF reviews the team’s performance, but Mulee’s message is clear: Kenya’s women’s football development should not be defined by one disappointing tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is defending Beldine Odemba?
Former Harambee Stars head coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee has defended the Harambee Starlets coach.
Why is Beldine Odemba under scrutiny?
Odemba’s position is facing scrutiny following Harambee Starlets’ winless campaign at the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco.
How long had Kenya been away from WAFCON?
Kenya returned to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a 10-year absence.
What did Jacob Mulee say about Kenya’s WAFCON return?
Mulee said Kenya’s qualification should be viewed as part of the development and rebuilding of women’s football rather than focusing only on the team’s early exit.
Have Kenya’s Junior Starlets qualified for the 2026 U-17 World Cup?
Yes. The Junior Starlets have qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.