Kenya’s U-17 women’s national team, the Junior Starlets, concluded their friendly tour of Morocco on a high, securing a 2-0 victory in their second match on April 7, 2025, at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat. The Junior Starlets faced off against the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup hosts, Morocco, and triumphed thanks to late goals from Mitshel Waithera in the 80th minute and Elizabeth Ochaka in stoppage time.
This victory followed a 1-1 draw in their opening match against the same Moroccan side. In that encounter, defender Elizabeth Ochaka scored Kenya’s only goal in the 60th minute, securing a well-earned draw. With the friendlies behind them, the Junior Starlets are set to return to Kenya, where they will ramp up preparations for their crucial two-legged final qualification round against Cameroon. The first leg is scheduled for Sunday, April 20, 2025, at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, with the return match set for Friday, April 25, 2025, at Stade Olembe in Yaoundé.
The outcome of this high-stakes encounter will determine which team secures a coveted spot at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 8. The Junior Starlets have made an impressive run to the final qualification round, having previously dominated Uganda with a commanding 5-0 aggregate victory. On the other hand, Cameroon’s Young Lionesses advanced after a dominant 6-2 aggregate win over Ethiopia.
Kenya is determined to make history by qualifying for the U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the second consecutive time, following their debut appearance in the Dominican Republic in December 2024. A successful qualification would mark a monumental achievement for the Junior Starlets and further solidify their standing as a rising force in women’s football in Africa.
Meanwhile, the senior women’s national team, the Harambee Starlets, is also in action, having traveled to Abidjan for a series of friendly matches ahead of their third-round qualifier for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). On April 8, they are set to play their second friendly against Ivory Coast. The Starlets are using these friendlies to fine-tune their squad before their upcoming qualifier against Gambia, where a spot in the prestigious tournament is up for grabs.
The Starlets’ recent form includes a narrow 1-0 aggregate victory over Tunisia in their last qualification tie, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast on April 4, which marked their first loss of the year. Despite the setback, the team remains optimistic, aiming to bounce back and carry momentum into their crucial WAFCON qualifier. The tournament will also be hosted in Morocco, and Kenya is determined to qualify for the competition for the first time since their historic appearance in 2016.
The Junior Starlets and the Harambee Starlets are both gearing up for major challenges in the coming weeks. With intense preparations underway, these teams are determined to represent Kenya on the world stage, showing the growth and potential of women’s football in the country.
