Junior Starlets learn path towards another U17 World Cup appearance
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 11.01.26. | 21:38
The unique nature of the draw presents the potential of Kenya facing both Uganda and Tanzania in the second and third rounds
Kenya women’s U17 national team - Junior Starlets - will potentially have to beat regional rivals Uganda and Tanzania, to stand another chance of gracing the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco later this year.
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This comes after Mildred Cheche's side on Saturday, 10 January, learnt their path to the global showpiece, following an African Qualifiers draw in Rabat, Morocco.
As per the draw, Kenya, who qualified for their first U17 World Cup in 2024, will meet Namibia in a two-legged first round of qualifiers on 10-19 April.
Unlike last year, Starlets will this time feature in the first round, having not benefitted from a bye.
A total of 30 teams - bar Africa's highest ranked country Nigeria - will be involved in the qualifiers, which will be played in three kncokout rounds, with the best for teams qualifying for the World Cup finals.
Coincidentally, Kenya's route to Morocco, has been drawn up in a way that potentially sets up match-ups with fellow East African rivals.
Assuming a case where the Junior Starlets beat Namibia in the first round, a second round dust up with Uganda awaits, provided they also win against Zimbabwe, who they meet as their first hurdle.
Kenya and Uganda met recently in the 2025 qualifiers, where Junior Stars came out tops in the second round to win by an aggregate score-line of 5-0.
This year's second round is slated to take place over two matches between 22-31 May.
In the third round, the winner of the Kenya-Uganda tie, could yet face off with another CECAFA representative, this time being Tanzania, who must also do their part to get past Botswana in the first round, plus either continental heavyweights South Africa, or Central African Republic.
The final round takes place between 3-12 July.
Junior Starlets, after a seamless run in 2024, saw their long-unbeaten run in the qualifiers end in brutal fashion to Cameroon, who dashed Kenya's back-to-back World Cup hopes with a 4-1 aggregate win in April.
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FULL DRAW:
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