Heartbreak in Yaoundé as Junior Starlets fall short in World Cup qualification bid
Kenya's Junior Starlets saw their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup dream come to an end in Yaoundé after a 3-1 defeat to Cameroon in the return leg of their final qualifying round, sealing a 4-1 aggregate loss.
The Junior Starlets were left to rue missed chances yet again after falling 3-1 to Cameroon U17 in the second leg of their 2025 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup final qualifying round clash on Friday night in Yaoundé.
Cameroon came into the match with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg and quickly built on it in the sixth minute when Beatrice Avana opened the scoring.
The Junior Starlets responded by dominating much of the first half but squandered several clear opportunities to turn the tie around.
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Kenya started the second half brightly, with Elizabeth Ochaka converting from the penalty spot in the 50th minute to draw level.
However, their relief was short-lived as Ange Tazanou restored the hosts' lead just three minutes later.
Tazanou’s goal halted Kenya’s momentum, and in the 85th minute, Lys Fraîche Tiwa sealed the result with a penalty, extending Cameroon’s lead to 3-1 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
The result ended Kenya’s hopes of back-to-back World Cup appearances, while Cameroon broke their East African jinx to qualify for their third FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, having last featured in 2018.
Head coach Mildred Cheche made changes to her midfield and forward line for the fourth straight qualifier. Mitshel Waithera, who impressed off the bench in the first leg, replaced Brenda Achieng' in attack, while Lindy Weey Atieno was preferred in central midfield ahead of Joy Angela Valencia.
Captain Halima Imbachi and Mwanakombo Bakari retained their places in the double pivot, as did Edinah Nasipwondi and Joan Ogola on the wings.
The defence remained unchanged, with Judith Nandwa, Elizabeth Ochaka, Lorine Ilavonga, and Jenevieve Mithel protecting goalkeeper Velma Abwire, who also kept her place.
Ahead of the game, Cheche had urged focus from her team, but a lapse in the sixth minute handed Cameroon the opener. The Starlets lost possession in midfield, allowing Karen Ndule to send an opportunistic ball from the left wing that was flicked on by Tiwa into Avana’s path. She struck a first-time shot from outside the box into Abwire’s bottom left corner.
Kenya responded with a mixture of promise and frustration as they created chances but failed to convert.
Their first clear opportunity came in the 13th minute, but Nasipwondi’s cutback after brilliant wing play was cleared just before it reached Waithera.
Seven minutes later, Nasipwondi was again in the thick of the action after being released by Imbachi, who had broken up a Cameroonian move. However, her final ball was poor and evaded both Ogola and Atieno, who were poised for a tap-in.
The Starlets’ high-tempo attacking play increased the intensity of the match, and both Ilavonga and Bakari were brought down by Tiwa in the 25th minute, though the Cameroonian escaped a booking.
Kenya continued to push forward in search of an equaliser, but profligacy again proved costly. This time, Weey beat her marker on the left before releasing Ogola through on goal, but the winger dragged her shot inches wide of Jessica Mabou’s top corner.
Cameroon almost punished Kenya’s wastefulness, with their attacks coming either side of Waithera firing a free-kick into the wall in the 33rd minute.
Tiwa had the ball in the net in the 31st minute after controlling a pass from Avana, but it was ruled out for handball. She was booked for the offence.
Just four minutes later, Tiwa released Tazanou, who had been quiet until that point. The forward managed to get her shot on target, but Abwire produced a smart save to deny her and conceded only a corner.
Nasipwondi had one more chance before half-time but her effort from the edge of the box found the side-netting, and Cameroon held their 1-0 lead at the break.
Kenya started the second half with renewed belief and were rewarded when Ochaka converted from the spot after a handball by Yvana Wendji Nde, who had blocked a goal-bound effort by Ogola.
But just three minutes later, Cameroon responded. Avana floated in a cross from the right, and Tazanou swept it home to restore their lead.
What followed was a quiet period with neither team creating clear-cut chances, until Tiwa tested Abwire with two free-kicks - one requiring a fingertip save, and the other rattling the crossbar.
Tiwa was eventually rewarded in the 85th minute after being fouled by Ilavonga in the box. She stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and put the tie beyond Kenya’s reach.
With no further goals forthcoming for the Junior Starlets, Cameroon saw out the match to secure a 4-1 aggregate win and book their place at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
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