Harambee Starlets striker Mwanahalima Adam Jereko, known as Dogo, is set for a strong return to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 after helping the team qualify. She scored key goals in qualifiers against Gambia and Senegal. This marks Kenya's second qualification since 2016.
Mwanahalima Adam Jereko, the 28-year-old striker known as "Dogo", was a key player in coach Beldine Odemba's squad during the WAFCON 2026 qualifiers. She scored two goals against Gambia in the first leg of the final round, contributing to a 3-1 win, and the lone goal against Senegal in the return leg, securing a 1-0 victory. Overall, Kenya won 4-1 on aggregate to qualify for the second time since 2016.
Adam was part of the squad that qualified for WAFCON 2016 in Cameroon but did not travel with the team as she prepared for her Form Four exams. "My return to WAFCON this time is special for me because in 2016 I couldn't travel with the team as I was preparing for my Form Four exams," said Adam, a former student at St. Johns Kaloleni Girls High School in Kilifi.
In 2016, the Starlets qualified for the first time under coach David Ouma after a 2-2 draw away to Algeria (with Adam scoring) and a 1-1 draw in Nairobi. Currently, Adam plays for HB Koge in Denmark on loan from Kansas City Current in the US. "Where I am now, I get playing time compared to America. I am now the Dogo people know," she explained.
Besides Adam, defender Enez Mango played in the 2016 qualifiers but did not travel. The remaining players from that era are defender Dorcas Shikobe, midfielder Corazone Aquino, and goalkeeper Lilian Awuor. "This time we need to prepare properly. We want to compete with Africa's best nations. We also thank President William Ruto for remembering us as daughters, and this is motivation for us," Adam added. This qualification boosts the team's preparations for the tournament.