The Australian side rebounded from their Asian Cup final deflation on Saturday (Sunday AEST) by starting their African adventure with a 5-0 stroll against Malawi that featured a 74th international goal for Sam Kerr and a first for debutant Leticia McKenna.
It's set up a clash with the hosts on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) at Nyayo National Stadium with Kenya buoyant after their 2-0 victory over India.
SK20 makes no mistake from close-range to double our lead! 💥— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) April 11, 2026🎥: @ParamountPlusAU#Matildas #AUSvMWI #FIFASeries pic.twitter.com/EfhJAzMKBQ
Montemurro, pleased with the response of his side who also netted through Emily van Egmond, Alex Chidiac and Holly McNamara three weeks on from their Asian final defeat by Japan, was adamant this was an important trip of discovery before next year's World Cup in Brazil.
"It was good to see that we kept to our way of playing, and we got the result; that's what we're here for," he said.
"We're here to simulate difficult conditions, to simulate hostile crowds, to simulate different things that we don't get in Asia or in Australia.
"We don't get to play a lot of African teams, so it was very important for us to play our football against a very unpredictable side, and a team that had some very good talent."
He hopes Kenya and "a very parochial and hostile crowd of 18,000 to 20,000 people" will provide a significant test and is adamant the Aussies are playing a part in a soccer revolution.
"For me, African women's football is the big sleeping giant," he said. "There's a lot of talent. I've coached a lot of African players in my clubs in Europe, and the talent is incredible, it's now all about infrastructure and processes and organisation.
"We want to be able to help the game grow. Because by seeing what other clubs do and what other organisations do and what other federations do, we all grow together. There's massive opportunities."
"It's surreal. It hasn't sunk in yet," 💬🥹— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) April 12, 2026Leticia McKenna reacts to scoring a goal on her international debut.#Matildas #FIFASeries pic.twitter.com/AZ2bb6YDRt
It proved a big day for 23-year-old McKenna, the Melbourne City midfielder. "I went a bit numb when I scored. I just smiled. It was incredibly special to do that on debut," said the debutant from Perth.
"Everyone just got around me straight away afterwards, congratulating me, and welcoming me into the Matildas' family.
"I can't thank them enough. Every single one of them came up to me straight away, and that's something I'll cherish for a long time."
