Rising Starlets intensify training ahead of U20 World Cup qualifiers with Wednesday friendly win

Kenya U20 women’s national team - Rising Starlets - intensified their preparations for their upcoming 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers against Angola later this week with a friendly win on Wednesday 4 October 2023.

Beldine Odemba’s squad entertained Kahawa Pride ladies at the Kasarani Annex Grounds, winning by a scoreline of 18-0.

The fixture was the team’s first since a squad of 30 players was called up to training camp on Saturday 30 September, days before 24 members attended active training sessions on 1 October.

On Wednesday - the fourth day of residential training- 30 players were involved in the fixture, and now have three days left to host the first leg of the second round phase of qualifiers.

As per FKF, the visitors, Angola, are set to jet into the country on Friday 6 October, with the game taking place on Sunday 8 October.

Rising Starlets provisional squad for U20 WC Qualifiers named, camp enters Day Two

Subsequently, the Rising Starlets will travel to Angola for the second leg on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, ahead of the away match on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

The victor of this tie on aggregate will advance to face the winner of the second-round clash between Cameroon and Botswana in the third round.

Kenya’s quest to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Costa Rica last year was ended in the first stage after the Rising Starlets suffered a heavy 10-3 loss on aggregate to neighbors Uganda at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kampala, Uganda October 2021.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Nelly Achieng (Soccer Assassins), Judith Okumu (Butere Girls), Scovia Awuor (Sigtuna Football Academy), Christine Omolo (Butere Girls)

Defenders

Dorcas Glenda (Red Commandos), Ruth Akinyi (Nasokol Girls), Charity Luhavi (Wiyeta Girls), Mollyne Akinyi (Acakoro), Velma Kaveza (Itigo girls), Purity Awino (Nairobi Starlets), Anne Brenda Achieng (Macmillan Queens), Elizabeth Ochaka (Butere Girls)

Midfielders

Clotilda Auma (Butere Girls), Hellen Auma (Soccer Assassins), Jane Hato (Soccer Assassins), Susan Akoth (Acakoro), Jerrine Adhiambo (Soccer Assassins), Faith Atieno (Soccer Assassins), Anno Halima Dima (Kayole Starlet), Elizabeth Muteshi (Nakuru City Queens), Rebecca Kwoba (Zetech Sparks), Rachel Adhiambo (Acakoro)

Forwards

Elizabeth Mideva (Arch Bishop Njenga), Fasila Adhiambo (Ulinzi Starlets), Valerie Nekesa (Soccer Assassins), Faith Naliaka (Bukhaywa Secondary School), Anne Nabwire (Zetech Sparks), Marion Serenge (Arch Bishop Njenga), Charity Midewa (Soccer Assassins), Emily Okute (Gaspo Women)