By Brian Rajula
Kenya’s Junior Starlets have booked their place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating South Africa 3-1 in the second leg of the final qualification round at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The victory saw Mildred Cheche’s charges complete a dominant 5-1 aggregate win, having already secured a 2-0 victory in the first leg played in Pretoria, South Africa, last weekend.
Despite falling behind early in the return leg, the Junior Starlets showed remarkable resilience in front of their home supporters. The Kenyan youngsters mounted an impressive comeback, scoring three goals to seal another famous victory and confirm their place among the world’s best youth teams.
The qualification marks a historic achievement for Kenyan football as the Junior Starlets become the first Kenyan national team to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup twice. After making history in 2024 by becoming Kenya’s first-ever football team—male or female—to reach a FIFA World Cup, the young stars have now returned to the global stage for a second consecutive appearance.
Head coach Mildred Cheche once again guided the team through a challenging qualification campaign, with the Junior Starlets displaying discipline, determination and attacking quality throughout the qualifiers. Their consistency over the two legs against South Africa underlined Kenya’s growing status in African women’s youth football.
The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted in Morocco, where Kenya will be among Africa’s representatives on the global stage. The tournament presents another opportunity for the country’s rising football stars to showcase their talent against the world’s best while inspiring the next generation of young girls to pursue the sport.
The latest qualification is another significant milestone for Football Kenya Federation’s investment in women’s football and youth development, reinforcing the progress the country has made in recent years.
With their World Cup ticket now secured, attention will shift to preparations for the tournament as the Junior Starlets look to improve on their maiden World Cup appearance and make an even greater impact in Morocco.
