National women’s under-17 team coach Mildred Cheche is confident that her team, the Junior Starlets, will present a formidable challenge to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers scheduled for February.
The two-legged second-round fixtures will see Kenya play their away match on February 4, with the return leg set for Nairobi a week later.
Cheche expressed optimism about her team’s capabilities, stating, “We have a good team that can compete against DR Congo.” She highlighted the physical and mental readiness of the players, emphasizing their participation in local tournaments like Talanta Hela and Chapa Dimba, which significantly contributed to their fitness.
The 30-member provisional squad, composed mainly of high school players, has been in a residential camp for five days.
The squad includes standout players like Valerie Nekesa from Madira Girls, who delivered an impressive performance in the Rising Starlets U20 Women World Cup qualifiers, scoring a hat-trick against Angola.
The Junior Starlets are set to travel to the Central African nation on February 2, two days before facing DR Congo. The outcome of the two legs will determine the team that advances to the third round of the qualifiers.
