Harambee Starlets U17 forward Marion Serenge celebrates in a past match (C) FKF
The Junior Starlets will play at this year's FIFA Women's U17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic after defeating Burundi U17 5-0 on aggregate.
The gallant girls of our beloved republic go down in history as the first Kenyan football team of any age category or gender to qualify for an international football tournament organised by FIFA.
Kenya U17, coached by Mildred Cheche, was already in dreamland going into the match after winning 3-0 away to their opponents on June 9, 2024, in Addis Ababa. There was palpable excitement at the Ulinzi Sports Complex as the girls came out of the tunnel for their warm up.
The vibrant mood at the stadium exploded into a state of unbridled delirium after Marion Serenge put Kenya U17 1-0 up in the 19th minute. It was just the start that everyone had wished for and things got even better three minutes when Valerie Nekesa doubled the Junior Starlets' lead.
Now leading 5-0 on aggregate, the Junior Starlets were home and dry as they took a 2-0 lead to the break.
The second half did not see any more goals but even then, the job was already done, and beautifully so.
Now the whole country is itching with the anticipation of seeing the girls make their bow at the 2024 FIFA Women's World Cup which kicks off on October 16 in the Dominican Republic.
Kenya becomes the second country from East Africa to appear in the competition after Tanzania U17 featured in the last edition which was held in India in 2022.
On that occasion, Tanzania U17 reached the Quarterfinals after amassing four points in the Group Stage with one win, one draw, and one lose from three games.
It is that mark left by Tanzania U17 that the Junior Starlets will aim to surpass and even make more history by becoming the first team from Africa to reach the final of the Women's U17 World Cup.
Africa's best performers in the tournament so far have been Ghana U17 and Nigeria U17 who finished third in the 2012 and 2022 editions respectively.
The next challenge for the Junior Starlets is also not to stop at this moment but to intensify their effort to becoming regular competitors at the tournament.
Starting next year, the tournament will expand to 24 teams and it will be held every year with Morocco hosting the first five editions. This presents a great opportunity for the Junior Starlets to build on the high of the moment they have lived today.
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