Junior Starlets, Valarie Nekesa, and Coach Cheche earn historic CAF award nominations
By Rama Mohammed |
Kenya’s Junior Starlets, star striker Valarie Nekesa, and coach Mildred Cheche have earned prestigious nominations for the 2024 CAF Awards. The recognitions come after a historic year marked by the U-17 team’s FIFA World Cup debut and Nekesa’s standout performances. Winners will be announced on December 16, 2024, in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Kenya’s Junior Starlets and striker Valarie Nekesa have received nominations for the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, honouring their exceptional achievements in 2024. The U-17 team is shortlisted for the Women’s National Team of the Year category, while Nekesa is in contention for the Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
U-17 head coach Mildred Cheche also made history by earning a nomination for Women’s Football Coach of the Year, joining an elite group of African tacticians recognised by CAF.
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CAF announced the nominees on Wednesday, with Nekesa among 10 young talents shortlisted for her standout performances this year. The 17-year-old became the first Kenyan to score at a FIFA World Cup during the Junior Starlets’ 2-1 victory over Mexico in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held in the Dominican Republic. She was also instrumental in securing Kenya’s historic qualification for the tournament, scoring a crucial goal in their 2-0 win over Burundi on June 16.
Nekesa is the first Kenyan ever nominated in the Women’s Young Player of the Year category. She faces stiff competition from players such as Cathy Biya (Cameroon), Habiba Sabry (Egypt), and Nthabiseng Majiya (South Africa).
Coach Mildred Cheche, celebrated for guiding the Junior Starlets to their first-ever FIFA World Cup, is also among the nominees for Women’s Football Coach of the Year. Her competitors include Hassan Balla Abdousalami (Cameroon U-20), Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe), and Chris Danjuma (Nigeria U-20).
The Junior Starlets are competing for Women’s National Team of the Year against top African teams, including Nigeria’s senior team, Zambia’s senior team, and Morocco’s national team. Kenya’s U-17 side became the first Kenyan team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup, representing the continent alongside Zambia and Nigeria at the global showpiece held from October 16 to November 3.
The CAF Awards will honour African football excellence for the period between January 2024 and October 2024. Winners will be announced on December 16, 2024, in Marrakesh, Morocco.
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