In the early hours of Friday, October 18th, history will be made as Kenya’s U17 girls’ football team steps onto the world stage for the very first time.
The Kenya U17 team will face England in their opening Group C match of the FIFA U17 World Cup at the Santiago de los Caballeros Stadium, marking a monumental moment in Kenya’s sporting history.
The journey to the FIFA U17 World Cup has been an inspiring one for the young Kenyan team. Coached by Mildred Cheche, the Rising Starlets secured their spot in the tournament by defeating Burundi 5-0 on aggregate in the third and final qualification round.
The decisive match, held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in June, saw a packed stadium cheering as goals from Valarie Nekesa and Marion Serenge propelled the team to victory and secured their place in the World Cup.
The Kenya U17 girls’ team has been working hard in preparation for this historic moment. After concluding their training camp in Kenya in August, the team traveled to Spain, where they played three friendly matches.
These matches against European clubs provided valuable experience and helped sharpen their skills for the tournament. They then moved to the Dominican Republic, the host nation, for the final phase of their preparations, concluding their warm-up matches with a 3-1 victory over the hosts.
The Rising Kenya U17 team enter the World Cup with confidence, having remained unbeaten in all their pre-tournament friendlies. This positive momentum will be crucial as they take on some of the world’s best teams in Group C, which includes England, Mexico, and Korea DPR.
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This will be Kenya’s first appearance in the FIFA U17 World Cup, a significant achievement for the nation and a proud moment for the players, coaching staff, and supporters.
The Kenya U17 team’s first match against England is a challenging one, as they face a team with a strong football tradition. However, the Kenya U17 team are determined to make a name for themselves on the global stage.
Coach Mildred Cheche has expressed her optimism ahead of the tournament. “The mood in camp is good, and the players are psyched up and ready for the matches. The squad has adapted well to the climate, which is slightly hotter than Nairobi, but they are coping well,” she said.
Cheche believes that the Kenya U17 team’s extensive preparations, including the test matches in Spain, have given them a clear understanding of what they need to improve on and how they can compete at the highest level.
“The test matches were great for us, especially playing against European clubs and Portugal. It gave us a clear view of where we stand and what we need to improve on,” Cheche added. Her confidence in the Kenya U17 team’s ability to compete against established footballing nations like England, Mexico, and Korea DPR highlights the team’s strong preparation and mental readiness.
Kenya’s U17 team is placed in Group C alongside formidable opponents. After their opening match against England, the Rising Starlets will face Korea DPR, one of the tournament favorites, on October 20th.
They will then conclude their group stage matches against Mexico on October 24th. Advancing to the quarterfinals will require Kenya to finish in the top two positions in their group, a task that will undoubtedly be challenging but not impossible given their form and preparation.
The FIFA U17 World Cup presents a great opportunity for Kenya U17 team to showcase their talent on the global stage.
For many of these young players, it will be their first experience of international competition at such a high level, but Coach Cheche is confident that they will rise to the occasion.
“Being in the World Cup for the first time is a huge motivation for the team. Playing against big nations that have previously qualified for the tournament is a great challenge, but also an honor for us to represent Kenya on the global stage,” she said.
Several players from the Kenya U17 team have already made a significant impact during the qualification rounds and pre-tournament friendlies.
Had a fun time at our FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup photo shoot session☺️. #GoJuniorStarlets #JuniorStarlets pic.twitter.com/Q9zJwtPNqm
— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) October 13, 2024
Valarie Nekesa and Marion Serenge, who were instrumental in Kenya’s qualification, will be key players to watch in the World Cup. Both players have shown their ability to score crucial goals and lead the attack, and they will be expected to perform at their best against tough opponents like England and Korea DPR.
The team’s defense, led by players like Elizabeth Ochaka and Lorine Ilavonga, will also be vital as they look to keep out some of the world’s best young attacking talents. Goalkeepers Velma Auma, Ephy Awuor, and Scovia Awuor will need to be at their sharpest to ensure Kenya remains competitive in the tournament.
