Coach Mildred Cheche targets success as Junior Starlets prepare for Uganda
Kenya's Junior Starlets are preparing for a pivotal encounter with Uganda in the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. With Coach Mildred Cheche at the helm, the team is determined to overcome their regional rivals and advance closer to securing their spot on the world stage.
Kenya’s Junior Starlets, the U17 girls’ national team, are gearing up for a crucial clash against Uganda in the second round of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. With a chance to secure their place in the third round, Coach Mildred Cheche remains optimistic but acknowledges the challenges ahead.
The Starlets previously competed in the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic, where they bowed out at the group stage after losing to North Korea and England. However, a vital victory against Mexico in their final match showcased their potential. Despite their early exit, Kenya’s impressive performance in earlier tournaments earned them direct entry into the second round of qualifiers, alongside Nigeria and Zambia.
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In an interview, Coach Cheche outlined her vision for the team. “For 2025, we still want to qualify, so we are putting together a strong team that can compete at this level,” she stated. “We hope to win the match, but it’s not going to be easy because Uganda is an experienced side. However, we have a good team, and we’re prepared to push for positive results.”
Uganda advanced to the second round after a dominant performance against Namibia, securing an aggregate 18-1 victory in their two-legged encounter. This sets the stage for an intense regional rivalry as Kenya and Uganda face off on March 7-9, 2025, for the first leg, with the return leg scheduled for March 14-16, 2025. The winner will progress to the third and final round of qualifiers.
Reflecting on past achievements, Cheche highlighted the significance of the Junior Starlets’ journey. “Our major highlight was, of course, qualifying for the World Cup and being able to guide and nurture young talents,” she said. She also acknowledged Morocco’s milestone as the first African country to host the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup. “It’s a big challenge for other African nations to match Morocco’s quality facilities and organisation. Their success should inspire us to aim higher,” she added.
This year’s tournament marks the first time the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted in Africa, with Morocco following Jordan as the second Arab nation to host the event since 2016.
Kenya’s quest to secure a second consecutive World Cup qualification depends on their ability to overcome Uganda. Teams advancing to the third and final round will compete in April 2025 for a coveted World Cup ticket, with matches scheduled for April 18-20 (first leg) and April 25-27 (second leg).
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