Harambee Starlets took a massive step towards the third round of the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers after recording an emphatic 11-0 victory over Seychelles in the first leg of their second-round encounter at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Thursday.

The commanding performance puts Kenya in a strong position ahead of the return fixture scheduled for Monday, October 12, with the Starlets needing to protect their huge advantage to progress in the race for a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Valerie Nekesa and Elizabeth Muteshi led the goal rush, each finding the back of the net twice as Kenya overwhelmed their opponents with a clinical attacking display.

Nekesa set the pace by opening the scoring in the ninth minute before Muteshi extended Kenya’s lead in the 25th minute. Nekesa struck again just before the interval, completing her brace to give the hosts a comfortable 3-0 advantage at half-time.

The Kenyan side returned from the break with even greater attacking intent, refusing to ease the pressure on the visitors. Muteshi completed her brace with another goal in the second half as the floodgates opened.

Airin Madalina, Martha Amunyolete, Mary Airo, Elizabeth Mideva and Mercy Airo also got on the scoresheet, with Kenya adding further goals to cap a dominant afternoon in Nairobi.

The result provides interim head coach Godfrey Oduor with an encouraging start to the team’s Olympic qualifying campaign as the Starlets seek to establish themselves among Africa’s leading women’s football sides.

Kenya will face Seychelles again on Monday, with another victory or a favourable aggregate result enough to seal progression to the next round. Despite the sizeable advantage, the team must complete the two-legged assignment before its place in the third round is confirmed.

Should the Starlets advance, they will meet either Malawi or Zimbabwe in the third round, with the two nations contesting their own qualifying tie. That stage is scheduled to take place in February and March 2027.

The qualification campaign offers Kenya an opportunity to return to the Olympic stage, with Africa allocated two places in the women’s football tournament at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

With an 11-goal cushion already secured, the Starlets have given themselves a strong platform from which to continue their pursuit of an Olympic berth, although the immediate task remains finishing the Seychelles assignment successfully.