The Junior Starlets are ready for their Quarterfinal match against Uganda in the 2025 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup qualifiers. Under Coach Mildred Cheche, they aim for a successful result to secure consecutive World Cup qualifications. Team captain Halima Imbachi emphasizes the importance of overcoming challenges and continuing to strive for improvement after last year’s performance. The match takes place on Saturday at Nakivubo Stadium in Kampala.
The Junior Starlets are preparing optimistically for their upcoming 2025 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup qualifier against Uganda. The team, under the guidance of Coach Mildred Cheche, arrived in Kampala on Thursday morning and is determined to secure a positive outcome in their quest for consecutive World Cup qualifications.
Set to commence their qualifying campaign on Saturday, the Junior Starlets will compete against Uganda Women U17 in the first leg, which kicks off at 4 PM at Nakivubo Stadium. The team aims to replicate their successful stint in 2024 when they became Kenya’s first national team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup, achieving this feat by defeating Burundi Women’s U17.
Mildred Cheche expressed confidence in her team’s readiness, stating, “Playing away is tough but we are ready. We are expecting a positive result of either a win or a draw. This team is motivated and in high spirits. We are ready.” Accompanied by a squad of 23 players, Cheche recalls eight players who previously participated in the historic World Cup qualification.
Team captain Halima Imbachi conveyed the team’s determination to win, acknowledging Uganda’s strengths: “We are aware of the challenge that is ahead of us and we know that we have to work harder than we did last year. Uganda also has a good team and so, it will not be an easy game.” She also emphasized their intent to advance further than the group stages if they qualify for this year’s tournament, learning from the previous year’s elimination.
The 2025 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup, which will take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 8, features an expanded format of 24 teams, with five slots allocated to African teams including Morocco. Should the Junior Starlets obtain a victory against Uganda Women U17, they will face either Cameroon or Ethiopia Women U17 for a chance to secure one of the four African qualification slots.
The Junior Starlets achieved their last World Cup qualification without conceding a single goal, triumphantly overcoming their opponents in prior matches. Uganda, which has never qualified for the U17 World Cup, was eliminated in the previous year but has shown strength this season with an impressive aggregate score against Namibia. The return leg of this tie will be held next weekend in Nairobi.
In summary, the Junior Starlets are poised and hopeful as they approach a pivotal match against Uganda for the 2025 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup qualifiers. With past successes shaping their confidence and the team’s determination to improve upon previous performances, they aim for victory and potential advancement in the tournament. The stakes are high, and the upcoming matches will be crucial in determining their World Cup journey.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
