Coach Cheche Names Provisional Squad for 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup Qualifier

Kenya U17 women’s national team head coach, Mildred Cheche, has unveiled a 51-player provisional squad ahead of the upcoming 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Uganda.

The squad, featuring a blend of experienced and emerging talents, is dominated by players who impressed in last year’s Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) Games. Leading the selections are Butere Girls’ standouts Halima Imbachi and Joy Angela Valencia, both of whom were part of the Junior Starlets’ World Cup campaign last year.

Also making the squad are key returnees from the 2024 Junior Starlets World Cup team, including Ulinzi Starlets’ Velma Abwire and Lorine Illavonga, Scovia Awuor from Kobala Secondary, Nyakach Girls’ defender Jenevieve Mithel, Brenda Awuor from Madira Soccer Assassins, and Lindy Wee from Sunflower Academy. Additionally, Joan Ogola from Mwira Primary and Saye School’s Quinter Adhiambo have been called up.

Notably absent from the squad are former Junior Starlets regulars Lorna Faith Wasike, Diana Anyango (Butere Girls), Archbishop Njenga Girls’ former captain Marion Serenge, and Valerie Nekesa (Madira Soccer Assassins), all of whom have graduated to the Rising Starlets setup.

The Junior Starlets will report to camp at Kasarani Annex later this week as they prepare for the two-leg encounter against Uganda. The first leg is scheduled for March 7-9, 2025, with the return leg set for March 14-16, 2025.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Velma Auma Abwire (Ulinzi Starlets)

Scovia Awuor (Kobala Secondary)

Mitchelle Achieng (Madira Girls)

Ann Wavinya Abednego (Ibubi Girls)

Vallary Achieng (Nyakach Girls)

Malia Rose Nyabera Otondi (Pelham Memorial – New York, USA)

Defenders

Lorine Illavonga (Ulinzi Starlets)

Jenevieve Mithel (Nyakach Girls)

Patience Asiko (Butere Girls)

Sharline Munasia (Madira Girls)

Kelsey Aoko (Mwitoti Secondary)

Steller Kasichana (Kombani Secondary)

Naomi Kwamboka (Saye School)

Grace Mumo (Madira Girls)

Rose Nangila Wanyonyi (Wiyeta Girls)

Dorcas Glender (Butere Girls)

Julliet Akinyi (Nyakach Girls)

Berine Ikanya (Butere Girls)

Fancy Cheptoo (Trinity Mission)

Rehema Omulubi (Trinity Mission)

Jecinta Ndunge (Mbihi Girls High School)

Midfielders

Halima Imbachi (Butere Girls)

Lindy Weey Atieno (Sunflower Academy)

Brenda Awuor (Madira Girls)

Brigit Maria (Wiyeta Girls)

Merceline Adhiambo (Madira Girls)

Monica Nelima (Saye School)

Pamela Adhiambo (Kombani Secondary)

Serah Wanjiru (Menengai High School)

Gaudancia Maloba (Lwak Girls)

Fleviah Khatenje (St. Joseph Girls)

Tabitha Wambui (Kahawa Primary)

Mwanakombo Nlela Bakari (Mwaroni JSS Ukunda)

Linah Martha (Archbishop Njenga)

Princencia Atieno (Saye School)

Forwards

Sarah Awino (Mwitoti Secondary)

Brenda Achieng (Ugunja Township)

Mitchelle Waithera (Talanta)

Ruth Nanjala (St. Joseph Girls)

Anifa Bakari (Mwira Secondary)

Linet Auma (Wiyeta Girls)

Khadija Furaha Ali (Kobala School)

Beffine Shaley (Kobala School)

Joan Ogola (Mwira Primary)

Judith Nandwa (Unattached)

Quinter Adhiambo Mwendi (Saye School)

Jane Kweyu (Mwitoti Secondary)

Joy Angela Valencia (Butere Girls)

Faith Boke (Lwak Girls)

Joan Agola (Nyakach Girls)

Ruth Akinyi (Starehe Girls High)

The final squad will be trimmed ahead of the qualifier, as Kenya eyes a strong start in their quest for a place at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.