The Junior Starlets, coached by Mildred Cheche, anticipate their 2025 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup qualifier match against Uganda, scheduled for Saturday. With a positive mindset and a roster featuring eight members from last year’s World Cup team, the Junior Starlets aim to secure qualification for the upcoming tournament while improving on their previous group stage exit.
The Junior Starlets, coached by Mildred Cheche, are optimistic ahead of their 2025 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup qualifier match against Uganda. The team arrived in Kampala on Thursday morning and aims for a positive outcome to secure back-to-back FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup qualifications. The match kicks off on Saturday at 4 PM at Nakivubo Stadium, marking the start of their qualifying campaign.
Previously, the Junior Starlets defeated Kenya Police Bullets 3-0 in a warm-up ahead of this crucial match. In 2024, they became the first Kenyan national football squad of any age or gender to qualify for a FIFA World Cup after defeating Burundi Women’s U17. Coach Mildred Cheche expressed confidence, stating their readiness despite the challenges of playing away.
Cheche has brought a squad of 23 players, including eight from the landmark 2024 World Cup team. Team captain Halima Imbachi emphasized motivation for victory while acknowledging the strength of their opponents, Uganda. She noted their previous experience of exiting the group stages and their goal to advance further if they qualify for the upcoming tournament.
The 2025 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup will take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 8, with an expansion to 24 teams, including five slots for African nations. If the Junior Starlets win against Uganda, they will face either Cameroon or Ethiopia for a chance at one of the four qualifying spots available.
Kenya’s journey to last year’s World Cup included a solid performance, where they didn’t concede a goal throughout their qualifiers. In contrast, Uganda was eliminated last year but started strong in this year’s campaign with an 18-1 aggregate win against Namibia. The return leg of this qualifying tie will occur next weekend in Nairobi.
The Junior Starlets aim to secure their spot in the 2025 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup through their upcoming match against Uganda. With a seasoned squad and previous World Cup experience, the team is focused on overcoming challenges and progressing beyond the group stages. Their success hinges on solid performances in the qualifiers against strong competitors, with future matches dependent on their results against Uganda.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
