Kenya’s Junior Starlets have been promised rewards should they pull off a dramatic comeback against Cameroon in the return leg of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers this Friday in Yaounde.
The team will be looking to overturn a slender 1-0 deficit from last Sunday’s first leg at Nyayo National Stadium. Tiwa Melong’s 27th-minute strike from a well-whipped corner proved the difference in the match.
The team face a must-win situation in Yaounde, chasing a dream second appearance at the World Cup. Last year, Junior Starlets secured a maiden appearance at the U17 World Cup but failed to make it past the group phases after a third-place finish in Group C.
With everything to play for in Yaounde, Sports Principal Secretary, Elijah Mwangi and FKF President Hussein Mohammed paid the team a morale-boosting visit at their residential camp on Tuesday evening, just hours before the squad jetted out on Wednesday morning.
PS Mwangi assured the girls of state-backed incentives should they stage a turnaround and return home triumphant. "I have heard the promise of the young girls that they will come back with a win."
"We have assured them that we will reward that victory not only to motivate them but also to show our support for them," Mwangi assured.
He praised the squad’s grit and mental fortitude, noting their remarkable appearance in the qualifiers.
"Individually, these girls have shown resilience and reaching this level is a matter of determination. Taking part in this tournament is already a huge achievement," he said.
Mwangi further underlined the government’s commitment to nurturing talent across all sporting disciplines.
"For us in the ministry, we are supporting all sports disciplines because we want to ensure our sports are leading in the region," he noted.
Team captain Halima Imbachi sent out a heartfelt message to Kenyan fans, promising a spirited performance in Yaounde. "We are sorry to all our Kenyan fans for not delivering the win on home turf.
"We need all your prayers and support in the second leg for us to secure a win," Imbachi said.
She added that the team has been working tirelessly in training, sharpening their tactics and addressing lapses.
"We have already done a lot in training, we have made adequate corrections to our areas of weakness," she added.
With the stakes high and belief running deep, the Junior Starlets know that only a brave, all-out display will do.
"We are going to put maximum effort to secure a win against Cameroon."
