Kenyans have started dreaming of yet another FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup tourney after witnessing the national U17 women’s football team defeat Uganda 3-0 on Sunday, 16 March and 5-0 on aggregate.The Junior Starlets took on Uganda in the second round of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers after receiving a bye in the first round and won comfortably to book a place in the third and final round.Kenya will face Cameroon in the final round, where the winner will book a ticket to the World Cup, which will be held in Morocco from Friday, 17 October 202,5, to Saturday, 8 November 2025.STARS ABROAD: Former AFC Leopards duo face off in Serbia as Joseph Okumu bags clean sheetIn the match held on Sunday, 16 March at Nyayo National Stadium, Patience Asiko gave Kenya a first-half lead before substitute Brenda Achieng scored a second-half brace to ensure a dominant 3-0 win at home.As has been their norm, Kenyans took to various social media platforms to express their reactions to Junior Starlets’ win and qualification.The first to react was Kenya’s President William Ruto who in his X (formerly Twitter) handle said that the win justifies the young talent in Kenya, terming the team as an inspiration to the country.##NAJAVA_MECA_8787528##“Congratulations to our Under 17 Starlets team for a resounding 3-0 victory over Uganda in Nairobi this afternoon.Your triumph is a statement that Kenya’s young talents are ready to conquer the big stage. Your passion, discipline, and teamwork have inspired a nation.Let this be just the beginning. Keep the fire burning, keep striving for excellence, and let the world see what Kenya is made of. Congratulations once again!”Mathare United coach furious after technical bench’s ‘shocking’ decision in Kariobangi Sharks defeatSports Principal Secretary Eng. Peter Tum attributed the win to investment in grassroots football and pledged the government’s support to the team.“What a remarkable afternoon for Kenyan football! This victory reflects H.E. President William Samoei Ruto’s deliberate investment in grassroots talent development. Young stars like Elizabeth Ochaka have risen through structured programs, reinforcing our commitment to giving girls the right platforms to excel. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8787529##As the State Department for Sports, we pledge continued support for the Junior Starlets as they prepare to face Cameroon. With new energy in the federation’s leadership, the drive to restore Kenyan football’s glory is stronger than ever. #RoadToWorldCup,” posted Tum on his Facebook account.Reliable Tax on Facebook attributed the win to Kenya’s growth on the gender equality front.“You can see women equality in Kenya is way ahead of East African neighbors. Kenyan women dominate in all sectors and are fully liberated. Sports is where you can see how free a society is,” he stated.EXCLUSIVE: Michael Olunga Football Academy appoints new head coachShila Ankal congratulated the ladies but called on the team to correct the mistakes observed in the Uganda win.“Well played, girls. Let’s now focus on the many blind passes, and Cameroon will be a walk in the park,” said Shila.Simiyu Wanjala, on his part, showered coach Mildred Cheche with praise and foresaw her scaling the heights.##NAJAVA_MECA_8787537##“Congratulations to coach Mildred Cheche for good results. I’m praying for you to be one of the coaches in Europe in the near future,” said Wanjala.Amos Opiyo was impressed by the confidence and quality of the Junior Starlets.“This team is huge. Their future looks so bright for these girls. I liked how they were comfortable with passing the ball; the ability to take on opponents and the will to compete is very commendable.Why former Gor Mahia defender opted for fourth loan in Sweden in three yearsWe can sit comfortably as a country and be sure of dominating the continent, if not the World, if we just invest in this team,” remarked Opiyo.Imbugi Odemu, on his part, felt that going forward, the team must stop the wastefulness in front of goal.“Yes, we won, but the 3-0 victory does not reflect the game. The girls wasted so many chances in front of the goal. In the subsequent stages, we might get punished for wasting such opportunities. Cheche should focus on that before our next match.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8787536##Anthony Ndegwa was impressed by second-half substitute Brenda Achieng.“Brenda Achieng is a national treasure. The girl brought in a lot of spark in the forward line. From the performance that I saw, if Kenya qualifies for the World Cup, she will attract suitors from the best leagues in the World.”In the third round, the Junior Starlets will host Cameroon on Friday, 18 April 2025, before the away tie on Friday, 25 April 2025.
