Junior Starlets during a training session/HANDOUT
Junior Starlets coach Mildred Cheche says the ongoing CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship is a perfect platform to prepare her side for the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Cheche believes the regional tournament offers valuable competitive exposure as Kenya seeks to build another team capable of returning to the global stage after the country’s historic qualification for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
Her side has underlined its credentials as tournament favourites after registering back-to-back victories over Sudan and Somalia, scoring 22 goals without reply to move top of Group A.
While the emphatic scorelines have attracted attention, Cheche views the championship as an opportunity to assess squad depth, test tactical combinations and evaluate the readiness of emerging players against international opposition ahead of the continental qualifiers.
The Junior Starlets’ attacking prowess has been on full display, with Brenda Achieng, Faith Boke, Beryl Okumu, Elizabeth Alizeba and Patience Waithira among the scorers, highlighting the depth of talent emerging through Kenya’s youth development structures.
At the other end of the pitch, Kenyans have maintained consecutive clean sheets, demonstrating the defensive discipline that will be crucial when they face tougher opposition in the quest for another World Cup appearance.
The Junior Starlets now face hosts Tanzania in their final Group A match, a fixture expected to provide a sterner examination of the team’s progress after two one-sided victories.
For Cheche, the encounter presents another opportunity to gauge her players in a more competitive setting as preparations increasingly shift towards the continental stage, where World Cup tickets will once again be on the line.
Having become the first Kenyan team to qualify for a FIFA Women’s World Cup at any level in 2024, the Junior Starlets are determined to build on that legacy.
As they chase CECAFA glory, the bigger objective remains securing another place at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and establishing themselves as a consistent force in African women’s football.
