The Junior Starlets made history on Sunday evening by becoming the first Kenyan football team to ever qualify for a FIFA World Cup. They secured their spot in the U-17 Women’s World Cup by defeating Burundi 2-0 at the Ulinzi Complex in Nairobi.
Marion Serenge and Valarie Nekesa scored for the Kenyan side, both goals coming in the first half, which contributed to a 5-0 aggregate victory.
Kenya had previously won the first leg 3-0 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and needed only to avoid losing by more than two goals to qualify. However, the team sought more than just qualification, striving for a commanding victory.
Encouraged by fans who filled the Ulinzi Complex to capacity, the Kenyan girls controlled the match from start to finish, despite a stronger performance from Burundi in the second half.
Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche hailed the victory as a significant moment for Kenyan football. This win not only marks a milestone for the Junior Starlets but also sets a precedent for future Kenyan teams on the global stage.
The team will now prepare for the U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled for October 2024 in the Dominican Republic.
“This is a big moment for me, the entire technical bench, the girls and the country. This is a big win, and it is already a big motivation to perform well at the World Cup.
“We have a very formidable team that is able to compete at any level,” said an ecstatic Cheche.
“We just don’t want to go there and just participate. We want to go there and compete with the best of the best,” she added.
