Kenya U17 women’s football side kickstarted their quest to return to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup with a 2-0 win over neighbours Uganda on Saturday, 8 March at the Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, Uganda.Kenya, under their head coach Mildred Cheche, needed to look no further for inspiration as their predecessors etched their name in history by becoming the first Kenyan football side to qualify for any FIFA World Cup tourney back in 2024.Former Nairobi United midfielder on why he chose Sri Lanka over Harambee StarsCheche admitted that there is still work to be done in order for them to proceed to the final qualification round of the World Cup despite the 2-0 advantage.”We had a good plan with the team; our goal was to at least secure three points away or one, but we were able to achieve three points. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8763447##We have to plan effectively because 2-0 is not enough to secure qualification to the next round, so we have a hard task; we have to ensure we keep a clean sheet and then add one or two more goals,” said Cheche.The Junior Starlets posted a positive start to the encounter but could not make their early dominance count as Haira Nabbosa in the Uganda goal single-handedly kept her side in the tie.Tusker FC suffer shock exit as magic of Mozzart Bet Cup lives onMildred Cheche’s charges, however, went into the break with a massive advantage after Edina Nasipwondi handed Kenya the deserved lead in the 37th minute.It was double delight for Kenya just before the break as Joan Ogola doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time after her lung-bursting run on the left flank.##NAJAVA_MECA_8763441##Uganda exhausted all their five substitutes in the opening 15 minutes of the second half in a bid to mount a comeback and salvage something before the second leg in Nairobi.Despite the 2-0 advantage, Kenya still looked dangerous in attack, with Uganda having Haira Nabbosa to thank again when Brenda Achieng came close.Gor Captain rallies senior players to guide title defenseKenya held on for the victory ahead of the second leg that is slated for Sunday, 16 March.The aggregate winner of this tie will face either Cameroon or Ethiopia in the final qualification round for a place at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup later this year.
