Kenya’s national women’s U17 team, the Junior Starlets, are gearing up for a decisive clash against Cameroon in the second leg of the third round qualifier for the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

The match, scheduled for Friday, April 25 at Stade Olembe in Yaoundé, presents a do-or-die scenario for the Starlets, who trail 0-1 on aggregate after a narrow defeat in Nairobi.

Head coach Mildred Cheche remains optimistic, highlighting her team’s attacking prowess despite missed opportunities in the first leg. “We got more chances than Cameroon.

In front of goal, we did not utilize our chances, so going into the second leg we have to work on that,” Cheche said after the match. Forwards Brenda Achieng, Joy Angela Valencia, and Edinah Nasipwondi, who were entrusted with scoring duties, hit the post twice and missed several one-on-one chances. The trio will again be key to Kenya’s hopes of overturning the deficit in Cameroon.

Team captain Halima Imbachi assured supporters that the team has addressed its shortcomings from the first match and is determined to deliver a positive result.

“We have done all the corrections from the first match. We need your support. We are going to get the result,” Imbachi stated.

The squad received a morale boost from Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, who praised their resilience and promised support and rewards for a positive result. 

The winner of this tie will secure a spot at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, marking a potential second consecutive appearance for Kenya.

The Junior Starlets have shown strong form in previous rounds, notably eliminating Uganda 5-0 on aggregate. With a blend of youthful talent and tactical preparation, the team is focused on making history in Yaoundé.

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