Harambee Starlets failed to hold on to a lead after going 2-1 down to Algeria in a friendly match staged at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida, Algeria on Wednesday 26 November, 2025.
From the onset, Beldine Odemba had deployed a defensive approach with her team depending on counter attacks to breach their opponents and the tactic almost worked three minutes into the game when Shirleen Opisa missed the target by a whisker.
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But the Kenyans weren’t going to be denied on the quarter hour mark when Mwanahalima Adam stunned the hosts by finding the back of the net much to the jubilation of the visitors bench.
Algeria werent going to sit back after the setback and continued to press forward forcing keeper Lilian Awuor to numerous save but the Kenyans stood their ground on to take the lead to the half time break.
The forays from Algeria continued in the second half and they were to restore parity two minutes after the restart from a corner.Aicha Hamideche delivery was tucked in by Taleb Muller after a scramble and despite Kenyans protesting that keeper Awuor was fouled in the process, the referee approved the goal.
After the goal, Algeria dominated a chunk of play until coach Odemba withdrew Martha Amunyolete and Medina Abubakar for Corazone Aquino and Valarie Nekesa, for more stability in the midfield. Starlets had done enough to earn a draw before their hearts were broken in the final minute of regular time when the hosts scored through Nouhed Naili, who unleashed a fierce strike from outside the box past Awuor, after Starlets had failed to clear their lines well.
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