As the stakes reach a fever pitch in the 2025 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, Kenya’s Junior Starlets are gearing up for what could be their most defining match yet, with a fierce resolve to rewrite their story against Cameroon.Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsThe team, led by inspirational captain Halima Imbachi, touched down in Yaoundé on Wednesday afternoon after departing Nairobi aboard Ethiopian Airlines.##NAJAVA_MECA_8877182##All eyes now shift to the Olembe Stadium, where the important return leg will kick off at 9 pm Kenyan time on Friday.With a place at the global showpiece in Morocco hanging in the balance, the aggregate winner from this third and final qualifying round will book their ticket to the finals set for October 16 to November 3.The Starlets trail 1-0 after narrowly losing the first leg at Nyayo National Stadium last Sunday. Despite the setback, the team remains upbeat, and no one embodies that spirit more than Imbachi.”We know we let Kenyans down. We regret disappointing you, but we’re determined to win in Cameroon,” Imbachi said with heartfelt sincerity during a farewell visit by Sports PS Elijah Mwangi at the team’s camp at the Stadion Hotel in Nairobi. “Please continue supporting us; we believe 90 minutes is enough time for recovery,” quoted Nation Sport.”Some players were surprised and under a lot of pressure” – Cheche’s homework ahead of crucial second-legThe 16-year-old captain, a Form Four student at Butere Girls High School, is not just speaking from a place of hope—she is rallying her teammates from a place of experience and leadership.Imbachi was part of the trailblazing squad that made Kenya’s debut at last year’s Under-17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic, where the team finished third in Group ‘C’.“We are not giving up,” she added. “We have analysed our mistakes and are working hard to correct them. We are going to Cameroon with a positive attitude and a determination to fight for every ball. We owe it to our fans, our country, and ourselves to put in a better performance.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8877592##That unwavering belief has set the tone within the squad, a blend of rising stars and seasoned campaigners.Alongside Imbachi, returning players like goalkeeper Velma Abwire, defenders Lorine Ilavonga and Jenevive Mithel, midfielder Lindy Weey, and striker Joan Ogola bring much-needed experience to the team.Fresh faces such as Judith Nandwa (defender), Anita Bakaria (midfielder), and strikers Brenda Achieng and Edinah Nasipwondi—who all impressed in Kenya’s 5-0 aggregate triumph over Uganda in the previous round—are equally hungry to leave their mark.FKFPL: AFC Leopards, Ulinzi share spoils at Dandora StadiumReflecting on the home loss, Imbachi made the team’s mindset crystal clear: “We were disappointed by the loss because we didn’t achieve our goal. We promised that if they beat us at home, we have what it takes to beat them on their home soil.”
