Junior Starlets coach Cheche says there is more work to do against Uganda in World Cup qualifier
Junior Starlets coach Mildred Cheche has said there is still a lot of work for the team to do in the return leg of the 2025 Under-17 World Cup qualifier against Uganda despite the win in the first leg in Kampala on Saturday.
The Kenya Under-17 girls put a brilliant show on Saturday with Edinah Nasipwondi and Joan Ogola scoring in the 2-0 win.
Nasipwondi struck a clinical strike to open the scoring in the 36th minute before Ogola added the second in added time before the breather.
Coach Cheche, however, knows that a 2-0 scoreline was a fragile lead and she doesn’t want her charges to be complacent.
“We still have a tough match at home in the return leg and we can’t say that we have won at the moment. Until 90 minutes are over then we can say that we have won,” Cheche said.
The coach was speaking on Sunday after the team arrived from Uganda.
She said despite the win on Saturday, the match was tough and they had to work extra hard.
“It was a tough match but our girls battled hard and that is why we got the away win and that is a big thing for us as we prepare for the second leg,” Cheche said.
She said a victory or a draw at home in the return leg which is expected to be played at Ulinzi Sports Complex is what they will be looking for.
They can however even lose 1-0 and they will be through to the next round of the qualifiers where they are expected to face either Cameroon or Ethiopia.
The 2025 Under-17 World Cup will be hosted in Morocco from October 17 to November 7.
Team captain Halima Imbachi was grateful for the support which enabled them to win at Nakivubo Stadium, a venue that has always been a tough place to visit especially for the men national team Harambee Stars.
“I want to thank the fans, the FKF NEC members and also our families for their support. The match was not easy. Before the match, the coach spoke to us and we implemented what she said and also as players we spoke among ourselves and ensured we got the victory,” Imbachi said on Sunday.
She added that they had promised the coach and other members of the technical bench that they will beat any team that they play against.
The Junior Starlets made their debut at the Under-17 World Cup in 2024 in Domican Republic and made history by winning their match against Mexico. They however lost to the more experienced Korea DPR and England.