Kenya’s Junior Starlets, the U17 girls’ national football team, are set to face neighbors Uganda in a highly anticipated second-round clash of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in March.The Starlets were granted a bye in the first round of the qualifiers because they participated in last year’s edition in the Dominican Republic. Now, Kenya eyes a spot in the global showpiece for a second time, which is set to take place in Morocco later this year.##NAJAVA_MECA_8641746##It will also be the first time the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be held in Africa, and Morocco will be the second Arab country to host it after Jordan in 2016.Kenya exited the tournament in the Dominican Republic at the group stage after losing two matches to North Korea and England and beating Mexico in the final game.Uganda progressed to the second round after a dominant performance against Namibia, winning 18-1 on aggregate over two legs. The Teen Cranes, coached by Sheryl Botes, showcased their attacking prowess, including a staggering 10-0 win in the first leg away, followed by an 8-1 triumph in the return match.Kibera Black Stars eyeing experienced duo in bid for League promotionKenya, keen to secure a second consecutive World Cup qualification, will now face their regional rivals Uganda in a two-legged tie. The matches are scheduled for March 7–9, 2025, for the first leg, and March 14–16, 2025, for the return leg. The winner will advance to the third and final round, bringing them closer to a coveted World Cup spot, as Africa aims to field five representatives in the tournament.The Kenya Academy of Sports recently fielded two Kenya U17 teams at the just concluded CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and they hope the tournament will provide a good pool to select players from.The KAS team beat Boni Consilli Girls 2-0 in the third-place playoff, while the Kenya Elite Junior Academy (KEJA) finished fifth after beating Aigle Noir 4-0 in the playoff.Mathare United founder Bob Munro passes away at 82
