"Age does not matter" - Rising Starlets coach hints at standout players transitioning to senior squad for WAFCON Qualifiers

Kenya women’s U20 national team head coach Jackline Juma says a chunk of her Rising Starlets players will transition into the senior squad, following an impressive performance in the 2026 FIFA U20 World Cup Qualifiers.

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Rising Starlets on Sunday, 28 September, booked their place in the third round of the qualifiers after thrashing hapless Ethiopia 4-0 at Ulinzi Sports Complex, a result that saw them run out 5-1 winners on aggregate.

Leading the rout was captain Fasila Adhiambo, who registered a goal and an assist, and striker Elizabeth Mideva, who on top of scoring in the first-leg in Addis Ababa, added a brace to put the result beyond doubt.

Dominant Rising Starlets hammer Ethiopia to book spot in FIFA U20 World Cup Qualifiers third round

Already a part of the Harambee Starlets technical bench, Juma was asked whether she fancied any of her U20 players breaking into the senior team readying itself for a pivotal 2026 WAFCON Qualifier against The Gambia later next month.

“For us [Harambee Starlets technical bench], whoever is ready,” Juma said. “We will not deny anybody a chance because of their age. Once one is ready, then she will definitely step up.

We are looking at the best, since it is our last qualifier to the WAFCON, so we will get the best. Age does not matter, and definitely I can assure you some of the players here will transit into the senior team,” she offered.

Carrying a sizeable group of players, who made history by playing in last year’s U17 Women’s World Cup, Juma said the big role of the qualifiers, apart from carving a way to Poland next year, was leading successful transition through the age-groups.

“That is definitely the plan,” Juma, who shares the U20 technical bench with Kenya’s U17 women’s head coach Mildred Cheche, said.

“Some of the ladies here were in the U17s, Talanta Hela, and the GIFT Cup. Our goal is to ensure they develop and transition all the way to the senior team,” she added.

Despite making four changes to her starting team in the first leg, Juma engineered a near-flawless performance at home and said getting an early goal was the key to victory.

“We were aiming for a goal in the first 10 minutes, and that is why we kept the ball, and when without it, went high on the counter press,” Juma said.

At the Abebe Bikila Stadium, Mideva needed only 36 seconds to rip the net.

In Nairobi, four minutes were enough to catch Chalew Lemecha's side cold, laying a beautiful platform for Kenya to inch closer to rewriting more history in the women's game.