The head coach of the Junior Starlets, Mildred Cheche, has acknowledged the tough challenge ahead as they prepare for their upcoming clash with Cameroon in the third and final round of the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup Qualifier.
The Starlets made a strong statement this past weekend, defeating Uganda 3-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium, securing a 5-0 aggregate victory to progress to the third round. Cheche emphasized that the team’s focus is now entirely on Cameroon.
“Cameroon are strong and physical, but we are taking it one game at a time. We need to strengthen our squad and improve our physicality. It’s a big challenge, but I’m confident our players can handle it,” she said.
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Kenya will host Cameroon on April 18, 2025, before heading to Yaoundé for the return leg on April 25.
Despite the daunting task, team captain Halima Imbachi remains hopeful about the team’s preparations.
“We’ve been closely following Cameroon’s matches against Ethiopia, and we are preparing both mentally and physically. Football is largely a mental game, and with our capable coach, we’ll analyze their style and be ready,” Imbachi stated.
The Junior Starlets secured their spot in the third round with a convincing 3-0 home win over Uganda. Young forward Brenda Achieng, nicknamed “Last Born,” was the standout performer, scoring a brace after coming on in the second half.
Cheche explained her decision to introduce Achieng later in the game as a tactical move.
“She’s a talented player, but there’s pressure on her. I will continue to motivate her and encourage the team to go the extra mile,” Cheche noted.
Under Cheche’s guidance, the Junior Starlets have had an impressive run, winning six of their nine matches, drawing one, and losing two. Their strong performances have fueled hopes of securing another historic spot at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, following their previous appearance in the Dominican Republic.
The ninth edition of the tournament is set to take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 8, 2025, with an expanded format featuring 24 teams. Africa has been allocated five spots, and Kenya is determined to secure one of them.