At the break of dawn on Friday, October 18th, at precisely 2 AM, history will be made as Kenya’s U17 girls’ football team steps onto the global stage for the very first time. In a moment destined to be etched in the annals of Kenyan sports, they will face England in their opening Group C match of the FIFA U17 World Cup at the iconic Santiago de los Caballeros Stadium, marking a monumental chapter in the nation’s football journey.##NAJAVA_MECA_8415844##The team, coached by Mildred Cheche, secured their World Cup spot in June after defeating Burundi 5-0 on aggregate in the third and final qualification round. The final leg, held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, saw the stadium buzzing for 90 minutes as goals from Valarie Nekesa and Marion Serenge sealed the qualification in style.The Starlets have been in the Dominican Republic for around two weeks preparing for the tournament. They began their training in Kenya in August, followed by a stint in Spain where they played three friendly matches. They then headed to the Dominican Republic, the host nation, for the final phase of preparations, capping it off with a 3-1 win in a friendly against the hosts. The team enters the World Cup with confidence, having remained unbeaten in all their pre-tournament friendlies.Kenya is placed in Group C alongside England, Mexico, and Korea DPR, one of the tournament favorites. After facing England, they will take on Korea DPR on the 20th and conclude their group stage matches with Mexico on the 24th.Date set for first ever FKF presidential debateThe top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, while the bottom two will exit the tournament. This will be the last U17 World Cup with 16 teams, as the tournament will expand to 24 teams from the 2025 edition. Players born between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009, are eligible to compete.Coach Cheche is optimistic ahead of the tournament, noting that her players are in high spirits as they prepare for their World Cup debut. “The mood in camp is good, and the players are psyched up and ready for the matches. The squad has adapted well to the climate, which is slightly hotter than Nairobi, but they are coping well,” she said.She also emphasized the positive impact of their pre-tournament friendlies in Spain. “The test matches were great for us, especially playing against European clubs and Portugal. It gave us a clear view of where we stand and what we need to improve on.”“Being in the World Cup for the first time is a huge motivation for the team. Playing against big nations that have previously qualified for the tournament is a great challenge, but also an honor for us to represent Kenya on the global stage,” Cheche added.Kenya U20 shift focus to Burundi semifinal after dominant win over SudanKenya U17 World Cup Squad:-Goalkeepers: Velma Auma, Ephy Awuor, Scovia Awuor-Defenders: Elizabeth Ochaka, Lorine Ilavonga, Jenevieve Mithel, Christine Adhiambo, Kimberly Akinyi, Diana Anyango-Midfielders: Velma Awuor, Brenda Awuor, Halima Imbachi, Rebecca Odato, Susan Akoth, Lindi Weey Atieno, Pearl Olesi, Lorna Faith-Forwards: Valerie Nekesa, Joan Ogola, Marion Serenge, Quinter Adhiambo, Jane Kweyu, Joy Angela ValenciaMatch Referees for Kenya vs England:- Centre Referee: Alejandra Quisbert Iriondo (Bolivia)- Assistant Referees: Gabriel Moreno (Peru), Vera Yupanqui (Peru)-Reserve Referee: Vimarest Diaz (Venezuela)Where to Watch: You can stream all of Kenya’s World Cup matches and other games for free on the FIFA+ app, available for download on the Playstore.Abud Omar teases Patrick Matasi after Harambee Stars howler [VIDEO]
