Starlets
Kenya’s national junior girls football team, Junior Starlets intensified their preparations on Monday at the Dandora Stadium ahead of the fourth and final round of the 2024 FIFA U17 World Cup two-legged qualifier against Burundi. They begin with the first leg in Ethiopia on Sunday, June 9, 2024, followed by the second leg at home on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Junior Starlets midfielder Halima Imbachi expressed her excitement and determination as the team looks to make history. “The opportunity to qualify for the World Cup is immense for our careers,” she said. “The scouting opportunities are immense, and it will be a game-changer for both my life and my family.”
Defender Lorine Ilavonga echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming matches. “This is a coveted chance, and I am not planning on wasting it,” Ilavonga stated. “Representing the Kenyan flag means everything to us. The team is completely focused on this final match against Burundi; it’s all we talk about, and we are all aligned on the focus of having a positive result.”
They are set to travel to Ethiopia on June 7, 2024, for the first leg of the qualifier on June 9, 2024 at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, and will return to Kenya on June 10, 2024, to continue their preparations for the second leg, scheduled for June 16, 2024.
After the two legs, the winner of the tie on aggregate will secure an automatic qualification to the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in October, to be held in the Dominican Republic.