FIFA U-17 World Cup Qualifier: Uganda Teen Cranes to Face Junior Starlets as Kenya Begin Preparations

Kenya's U-17 women's national team, the Junior Starlets, have begun their training camp in preparation for a crucial two-legged FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifier against regional rivals Uganda.

The Starlets advanced to this second round after a dominant 7-1 aggregate victory over Namibia. The upcoming first leg is scheduled for May 22 at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, Uganda, with the return match set for May 30 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

On Monday, head coach Mildred Cheche announced a 30-player provisional squad for the tie. The group includes seven new additions: Florence Mboya, Daisy Adongo, Jael Nanjala, Grace Wangari, Martha Musimbi, Rochelle Faith, and Khadija Furaha. This initial squad will be trimmed down to a final 23-player roster before the matches.

"It will be a very tough match, but we will prepare well for it," said Coach Cheche as quoted by Citizen Digital. "I believe in my players; they are very talented and ready to face the challenge. The dream is to qualify again for the World Cup."

Uganda, known as the "Teen Cranes," secured their place in this round by defeating Zimbabwe 6-1 on aggregate, winning 2-0 away before a 4-1 victory in Kampala.

This fixture is a repeat of last year's encounter between the two East African nations, where Kenya emerged victorious with a 5-0 aggregate scoreline. However, the Starlets were later eliminated in the final qualifying round by Cameroon.

The Junior Starlets are aiming for their second consecutive appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, following their historic debut at the 2024 tournament held in the Dominican Republic.

The qualification journey for the 2026 World Cup involves three home-and-away rounds. The winners of the four final-round ties will secure a spot in the tournament, which will be hosted in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, 2026.

This event is part of a new format featuring expanded 24-team editions held annually in Morocco from 2025 to 2029.