Rising Starlets Prepare for U-20 World Cup Qualifiers Against Cameroon

The Rising Starlets are gearing up for their U-20 World Cup qualification game against Cameroon, with the first leg scheduled for November 10 in Cameroon, and the return leg on November 17 in Nairobi.

The team advanced to the second round after an outstanding performance against Angola, defeating them with a 10-1 aggregate score.

In the first leg at Nyayo Stadium, the Starlets, led by Valerie Nekesa’s hat-trick, secured a 6-1 victory, followed by a 4-0 away win. Their goal is to become the first Kenyan team to secure a World Cup slot.

After their first-leg win, the Ministry of Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba rewarded the team with a sum of Sh300,000. Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko also gifted them Sh200,000 to celebrate their success in Angola.

The U-20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in Colombia from August 31 to September 22, 2024, with the number of participating teams expanded to 24 from 16.

Spain will be seeking to defend their title in the expanded competition. If Rising Starlets win the two-legged qualifier match, they will face the winner of the match between Congo and Egypt.