Kenyans have been urged to turn out in large numbers at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday to cheer the Junior Starlets as they seek to seal qualification for the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup.
The call comes from Winnie Odinga, who appealed to football fans to rally behind the national girls' team ahead of the decisive second leg of the final qualification round against South Africa.
In a video message shared ahead of the match, Winnie said the players had already done their part by working hard to put themselves within touching distance of another World Cup appearance and now deserved support from Kenyans.
"The assignment is simple: show up," she said.
She urged fans to fill Nyayo Stadium, wear Kenyan colours and create an atmosphere that would inspire the team to finish the job.
"They've trained, they've worked hard, they've done their part, and now it's our turn. Let's fill up Nyayo Stadium, bring the noise, bring the vibes and show these girls that Kenya stands with them all the way," Winnie said.
Winnie Odinga's call adds to a growing campaign by leaders and football supporters urging Kenyans to fill Nyayo Stadium and rally behind the national team.
Nominated MP Irene Mayaka, who has been among the Junior Starlets' vocal supporters throughout their qualifying campaign, also appealed to fans to turn out in large numbers for the decisive fixture.
In a message shared on social media, Mayaka described the team as one she loves "with my whole heart" and urged Kenyans to become the "13th player" by creating a hostile atmosphere for the visitors.
She said the Junior Starlets had already made history as the first Kenyan football team to feature at the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup and now had an opportunity to qualify for the tournament for a second consecutive time.
Mayaka said the team's impressive 2-0 away victory over South Africa had put Kenya in a strong position but stressed that supporters still had a crucial role to play in helping the players complete the job at Nyayo Stadium.
"Tujaze stadium as we support our girls. Let's go Kenya," she said.
The match will kick off at 3pm on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium.
Entry to the match will be free for regular ticket holders, while VIP tickets will cost Sh500.
Kenya heads into the return leg carrying a commanding 2-0 advantage after defeating South Africa away in Pretoria during the first leg of the final qualifying round last weekend.
The victory left the Junior Starlets just 90 minutes away from securing a second successive appearance at the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, which will be staged in Morocco later this year.
Following their return from South Africa, the squad immediately resumed preparations, entering residential camp as the technical bench shifted focus to the decisive home fixture.
The team has continued training in Nairobi this week as it fine-tunes tactics and sharpens fitness ahead of Sunday's encounter.
Despite holding a two-goal advantage, the Junior Starlets know the task is not yet complete, with South Africa expected to mount a strong challenge in Nairobi in a bid to overturn the deficit.
A place at the World Cup would mark another significant milestone for Kenya's youth women's football programme, which has continued to produce competitive teams on the continental stage.
Qualification would also reinforce the country's growing reputation in women's football, following the team's historic appearance at the previous FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup.
The return leg is expected to attract a sizeable crowd as fans seek to inspire the team to another memorable achievement on home soil.
Sunday's fixture will determine which of the two sides secures the coveted World Cup ticket, with Kenya holding the upper hand after the first-leg success.
The Football Kenya Federation has also been encouraging supporters to attend the match and create a vibrant atmosphere as the Junior Starlets attempt to complete the qualification mission in front of their home fans.
A positive result at Nyayo would send Kenya back to the global stage for the second consecutive edition of the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, underlining the continued growth of women's football in the country.
