Odemba urges greater investment after Junior Starlets land tough World Cup group

 Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has urged the Government and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to intensify investment in the Junior Starlets after Kenya was drawn into a challenging Group E for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

Coach Mildred Cheche’s side will face China, the United States and Samoa in Morocco as they seek to become the first Kenyan football team to progress beyond the group stage of a FIFA World Cup.

The Junior Starlets will open their campaign against China on October 19 at the Women’s Football Complex, Pitch 1, before taking on the United States three days later at the same venue.

Kenya will wrap up their group-stage matches against Samoa on October 25. While congratulating the team on qualifying for a second consecutive World Cup, Odemba said the achievement should serve as a foundation for sustained growth in women’s football rather than being treated as an isolated success.

“I want to congratulate coach Cheche, the entire technical bench and the players for that feat. They put in a lot of hard work, and it has paid off. I’m wishing them well and urging the Government and the federation to support them fully so their campaign can be easier,” said Odemba.

Her appeal comes amid continued concerns over the welfare of Kenya’s women’s national teams, including recurring reports of delayed payment of players’ allowances. Odemba believes proper investment will give the Junior Starlets a realistic chance of surpassing their debut World Cup performance while strengthening the country’s player development pathway.

“The U-17 World Cup is an important platform. It not only gives these players exposure but also puts them on the world stage. Such tournaments attract scouts, making it easier for our young players to secure opportunities abroad,” she said.

She cited Valerie Nekesa’s recent move to Spanish top-flight club Tenerife as an example of the opportunities available to talented players. The Harambee Starlets coach also called for a structured youth development system beginning at the Under-13 level to ensure a seamless progression into the Junior Starlets and eventually the senior national team.

“Strong structures are essential. It would be fantastic to have U-13 and U-15 teams feeding into the Junior Starlets, who would then feed the senior team. The U-17 side has already played a key role in supplying players to the senior team, but with better structures we can achieve even more and be better prepared for major competitions,” she said.

Odemba further proposed regular youth training camps and international friendly matches, particularly during school holidays, to monitor player development and maintain continuity across the national team ranks.

“We can become a very competitive nation in women’s football if we invest properly. Recently, Tanzania took their team to Spain for a series of friendly matches. I hope one day we reach that level, where there is meaningful investment and structured development,” she added.

Kenya booked their place at the tournament with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory over South Africa in the final qualifying round. The Junior Starlets carried a 2-0 first-leg advantage from Pretoria before sealing qualification with a 3-1 win at Nyayo National Stadium.

The Morocco finals will mark Kenya’s second appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after making history on debut in the Dominican Republic in 2024 as the country’s first football team to feature at any FIFA World Cup.

During that campaign, the Junior Starlets lost to England and eventual champions North Korea before defeating Mexico 2-1 to register Kenya’s first-ever victory at a FIFA World Cup. Under Cheche, the team is targeting an even bigger milestone by reaching the knockout stages.