The Kenya Women’s U17 National Team, affectionately known as the Junior Starlets, is ramping up their training regimen as they prepare for the pivotal FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying matches against Ethiopia.
The team has entered its third day of residential training, with the first leg of the qualifier set to take place in Ethiopia on May 10, 2024, and the return leg scheduled for May 19, 2024, on home soil.
Head Coach Mildred Cheche has voiced optimism about the team’s prospects, citing the players’ high-level local competition experience as a solid foundation for their readiness. “Our players have been consistently performing at the top of local competitions, which gives us confidence that they will excel in the upcoming matches,” Cheche stated in an interview with FKF Media.
The Junior Starlets are slated to depart for Ethiopia on May 8, 2024, eager to translate their rigorous training into success on the pitch. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the aggregate winner of the Kenya-Ethiopia tie will progress to the final round of qualifiers, facing either Djibouti or Burundi.
The reward for triumphing in the fourth round is a coveted spot in the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, set to be hosted by the Dominican Republic in October.
As the Junior Starlets brace for their forthcoming contests, they carry not only their own aspirations but also the hopes of a nation eager to see them make history and claim their place on the global football stage.
With unwavering determination and commitment, the Junior Starlets are poised to showcase Kenyan talent and spirit at the highest echelons of international football.
