Junior Starlets bank on Uganda experience in renewed World Cup push

Junior Starlets’ memories of their breakthrough FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualification campaign continue to fuel their ambition as they prepare for another decisive regional clash against Uganda’s Teen Cranes later this month.

The first leg of the second-round qualifiers is set for May 22 at FUFA Stadium in Kadiba, Uganda.

The Kenyan side are drawing confidence from their previous success against their East African rivals as they target a return to the global stage.

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Butere Girls defender Faith Boke and Madira Girls midfielder Tabitha Wambui are among those driving belief inside the camp, insisting the squad remains fully focused on the task ahead.

Boke said Uganda remains a familiar opponent despite the changing qualification path.

“We are not going to let you down. The team’s motivation is to go to the World Cup. Last year, we faced different opponents, and this year too. Uganda is the only side we faced last year and are facing again this year, so we want to get the job done and see who our next opponents will be,” said Boke.

Kenya previously eliminated Uganda 5-0 on aggregate in the last qualifying cycle, winning 2-0 in Kampala through goals from Edinah Nasipwondi and Joan Ogola, before sealing a 3-0 victory in Nairobi, where Patience Asiko and a brace from substitute Brenda Achieng did the damage.

Boke added that morale in camp remains high ahead of the away leg.

“The camp is okay, and everyone has morale. Everyone is pushing because Uganda is not a simple opponent. But we promise our fans that we are coming back from Uganda with three points. At home it will be a slaughterhouse because we want to get the work done and wait for the next opponent,” she added.

Wambui, meanwhile, said another World Cup qualification would be a major boost for girls’ football in Kenya.

“The camp has been good, we are training well, and the team is ready. We are fighting because qualifying for the World Cup will mean a lot to me. It will continue motivating other girls and me to keep working hard to achieve our goals,” she said.

Starlets head into the fixture in strong form after a 7-1 aggregate demolition of Namibia in the opening round, while Uganda progressed with a 6-1 aggregate win over Zimbabwe.

Kenya will also lean on history, having dominated the Teen Cranes in the previous cycle, a run that carried Mildred Cheche’s side deep into qualification before narrowly falling to Cameroon.

That campaign, however, secured Kenya a historic milestone as the first national team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup tournament in 2024.

Their route included wins over Ethiopia (3-0 on aggregate) and Burundi (5-0), after DR Congo withdrew.