By ALFRED MATAZA
Harambee Starlets players on Wednesday boycotted their scheduled departure to France for a pre-2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) training camp, demanding the immediate payment of outstanding allowances before travelling.
The players staged a protest at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Goal Project offices in Nairobi, refusing to leave for the airport and insisting that their long-standing financial grievances must first be addressed.
The squad had been scheduled to fly to Miramas, France, for a residential training camp designed to prepare the team for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which will be staged in Morocco from July 26 to August 16.
Sources close to the team said the players are owed allowances dating back to Kenya’s WAFCON qualifying matches against Tunisia, as well as international friendly matches played against Ivory Coast earlier this year.
Speaking on behalf of the squad, captain Mwanahalima “Dogo” Adam said the players had repeatedly raised the issue with the relevant authorities but had yet to receive their dues.
“We have represented Kenya with pride and commitment, but our welfare has continued to be overlooked. We cannot continue preparing for a major continental tournament while our legitimate allowances remain unpaid,” Mwanahalima said.
The players adopted a firm “no money, no flight” position, declining to board the team’s scheduled flight until assurances were given that the outstanding payments would be settled.
The protest has thrown the team’s final preparations into uncertainty just weeks before the continental tournament begins.
FKF officials acknowledged the standoff but indicated that the federation is not directly responsible for releasing players’ allowances.
According to federation officials, funding for national team allowances is processed through the Ministry of Sports, with the government responsible for disbursing the payments.
The federation said it had already communicated the matter to the relevant government agencies and was awaiting the release of funds.
The Ministry of Sports had not issued an official statement by the time of publication, although officials were reportedly engaged in consultations aimed at resolving the dispute before the team’s planned departure.
The disruption is a significant setback for head coach Beldine Odemba, whose technical bench had planned the France camp as the final phase of preparations before the team travels to Morocco.
The Miramas training camp was expected to provide the players with an opportunity to acclimatize to weather conditions similar to those expected during the tournament, while also allowing the technical staff to fine-tune tactics and assess player fitness.
Kenya returns to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after an extended absence and faces a daunting challenge in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal and Algeria.
Football analysts warn that any delay in preparations could affect the team’s readiness, particularly given the quality of opposition awaiting the Starlets in the group stage.
The latest protest also reignites concerns over the welfare of national team players, with Kenyan athletes across various sports repeatedly raising complaints about delayed allowances, unpaid bonuses and inadequate facilitation during international assignments.
Sports stakeholders have urged the government and FKF to resolve the impasse swiftly, arguing that players should not be distracted by financial disputes at a crucial stage of tournament preparations.
With less than two weeks before WAFCON kicks off, attention now turns to whether the Ministry of Sports and FKF can reach a timely resolution that allows the Harambee Starlets to resume preparations and travel to France as planned.
