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Tag: FIFA U 17 WOMEN’S World Cup

  • Coach Cheche names 23 for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Namibia

    Coach Cheche names 23 for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Namibia

    Kenya Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche has announced her final squad of 23 players who will play the first round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers against Namibia next weekend.

    Cheche has opted to retain the core members from the team’s previous qualifying campaigns, underscoring the importance of continuity and team cohesion as they aim to capitalize on their past experiences.

    The squad includes Lindey Weey, Brenda Awuor, Mwanakombo Bakari, Grace Mumo, Faith Boke, Brenda Achieng, and Fleviah Khatenje, all of whom have been part of earlier U-17 teams.

    Their experience is expected to provide the team with stability and leadership.

    Bevarline Awuor also joins the squad after her recent participation with the U-20 team in the World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia.

    Tabitha Wambui returns to the national team setup after moving up from the U-15 level, highlighting the developmental pathway for emerging talent within the national teams.

    Bevarline Awuor has been named the team captain for the match, with Brenda Awuor serving as the vice-captain.

    The selection process was deliberate, with the technical team focusing on players who can effectively execute the game plan.

    “Technical and tactical abilities were key factors in the selection process. This team is more aggressive due to the players we’ve recruited, and many are eager to perform and secure a win,” stated coach Cheche.

    The Junior Starlets approach the match with a clear objective: to achieve a positive result and lay a strong foundation for the rest of the campaign.

    The team has intensified their preparations through training sessions and friendly matches against top FKF Women’s Premier League teams, with the focus now on delivering when it matters most.

    Starlets will play Namibia in Windhoek on 10th April before hosting the return leg in Nairobi a week later.

    The second round will be played next followed by the final third round in July.

  • Hosts Morocco face Brazil in FIFA Women’s U17 World opener on Friday

    Hosts Morocco face Brazil in FIFA Women’s U17 World opener on Friday

    The inaugural Women’s World Cup on African soil kicks off tonight, with hosts Morocco playing Brazil in a Group A match at the Olympic Stadium Annex Sports Complex Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat City.

    This marks Brazil’s eighth appearance at the U-17 Women’s World Cup, with only Japan and New Zealand having participated in more editions, totalling nine.

    For Morocco, this is their second time competing, following their debut in 2022. The Brazilian team, known as the Seleção, has reached the quarter-finals of this tournament on four occasions, the latest being in 2022.

    Morocco is striving to become the first host nation to advance to the knockout stages, as all previous hosts New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Jordan, Uruguay, India, and the Dominican Republic were eliminated in the group stage.

    The tournament features 24 teams divided into six groups, with the final scheduled for November 8th. Group A includes Morocco, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Italy, while the reigning champions, Korea DPR, are in Group B with Mexico, Cameroon, and the Netherlands.

    The USA, Ecuador, China, and Norway are in Group C, while Nigeria, Canada, France, and Samoa make up Group D.

    Spain is in Group E, competing against Colombia, Korea Republic, and Côte d’Ivoire.

    Group F consists of Japan, Zambia, New Zealand, and Japan.

     

     

  • Tila unveiled as official Mascot of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025

    Tila unveiled as official Mascot of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025

    As excitement builds ahead of the curtain-raiser at this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the tournament’s elegant and powerful mascot, Tila, has been unveiled.

    The highlight event, which will be the first FIFA women’s competition to be held in a North African nation, will take place from October 17 to November 8.

    Twenty-four of the world’s best women’s U-17 national teams will be competing for the coveted title.

    Tila exemplifies the elegant and sleek appearance of a caracal, a type of wild cat indigenous to Morocco and several other nations.

    Her name is derived from the word “tala,” which conjures up images of nature and silent strength and meaning “mountain” in a number of languages spoken by the Amazigh people of the nation.

    Hosts Morocco will get the tournament underway this Friday, 17th October, against Brazil in Group A  at the Olympic Stadium Annex Sports Complex, Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat City.

    Group A: Morocco, Brazil, Italy, Costa Rica
    Group B: Korea DPR, Mexico, Cameroon, Netherlands
    Group C: USA, Ecuador, China PR, Norway
    Group D: Nigeria, Canada, France, Samoa
    Group E: Spain, Colombia, Korea Republic, Côte d’Ivoire
    Group F: Japan, New Zealand, Zambia, Paraguay

     

  • African teams land tough opponents in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup draw

    African teams land tough opponents in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup draw

    Hosts Morocco will play in Group A alongside powerhouse Brazil, Costa Rica and Italy in the 1st ever expanded 24-team FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup set for late this year.

    The draw for the ninth edition was conducted on Wednesday night at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Morocco, with defending champions Korea DPR placed in Group B with Cameroon, Mexico and the Netherlands.

    Morocco 2025 will be the first edition of the expanded tournament to feature 24 nations, with all matches taking place in the nation’s capital.

    It is also the first edition of the global showpiece to be held in Africa.

    Group A: Brazil, Costa Rica, Italy, Morocco.

    Group B: Cameroon, Korea DPR, Mexico, Netherlands.

    Group C: China PR, Ecuador, Norway, USA.

    Group D: Canada, France, Nigeria, and Samoa.

    Group E: Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Korea Republic, Spain.

    Group F: Japan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Zambia.

    The top two teams from each of the six groups will advance to the Round of 16, as well as the four best third-placed teams.

    All matches will be held in four venues in the Administration City of Rabat between 17th October and 8th November 2025.

    Meanwhile, a revamped brand for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup has been unveiled for the next five editions.

  • “I’m confident Kenya will trounce Uganda,” says Ambassador Maangi

    “I’m confident Kenya will trounce Uganda,” says Ambassador Maangi

    Kenyan High Commissioner to Uganda Joash Maangi,is confident with the Kenya national women’s under-17 team, the Junior Starlets, qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for a 2nd time in a row.

    Maangi said this today when he hosted FKF National Executive Committee member representing women, Violet Kerubo, who paid him a courtesy call at the Kenyan commission’s office in Kampala.

    Kerubo is leading the Junior Starlets delegation, which will play host to Uganda tomorrow evening at the Nakivubo Hamz stadium in Kampala for the 2nd round 1st leg qualifying match.

    Junior Starlets training in Uganda ahead of tomorrow’s match against the host

    Maangi wished the Kenyan girls victory in their match tomorrow’s match.

    “I wish our young starlets the best as they play Uganda tomorrow for the FIFA Cup qualifier,” said Ambassador Maangi.

    Kenya is targeting to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup set for Morocco after their maiden qualification last year in the Dominican Republic, where they finished 3rd in Group C with a single victory.

  • Junior Starlets to open their maiden World Cup campaign against England

    Junior Starlets to open their maiden World Cup campaign against England

    Kenya’s Junior Starlets will get their FIFA U-17 women’s World Cup group C campaign underway against England on October 17 in the Dominican Republic.

    Starlets will then face North Korea on October 20 in the second match before winding up their group C fixtures against Mexico three days later.

    Kenya qualified for the World for the first time in history following a 5-0 aggregate win over Burundi in round 4.

    The 17th edition will kick off on October 16th, with Nigeria facing New Zealand in Group A before the host Dominican Republic plays Ecuador in the same group.

    Group B, which is deemed the group of death, will pit the USA, Spain, South Korea, and South American representative Colombia.

    Brazil, Japan, Zambia and Poland will face each other in Group D.

    Group matches will conclude on October 23 before paving the way for quarter finals on October 26 and 27 and semis set for October 30.

    The bronze match play-off and final will be played on November 3.

     

     

  • Nyamweya Congratulate Starlets after World Cup qualification

    Nyamweya Congratulate Starlets after World Cup qualification

    Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya has congratulated Kenya Junior Starlets after booking their ticket to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Sunday following a 2-0 win against Burundi at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. 

    Starlets qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the 1st time in history, registering an aggregate win of 5-0 over Burundi in the 4th round after winning the 1st leg 3-0 away in Ethiopia.

    “As a pioneer leader in the history of women’s football that I introduced during my tenure as football president, I look back with profound gratitude. 
    The dream and mentorship that I had envisioned are bearing fruit. I congratulate the team and look forward to their success at the World Cup. As I have always stated, Kenya is a rich football nation with talent that must continually be nurtured.” said Nyamweya 

    Nyamweya, who has also declared interest in the FKF presidency, called on the government to fully support the team as it embarks on preparations for the World Cup, set to kick off on October 16th this year in the Dominican Republic. 
     
    “I want to assure all football stakeholders and supporters that I have a solid plan to transform the game and regain Kenya’s lost glory. I look forward to also ensuring that the national team, the Harambee Stars, will also rise to this level. I want to appreciate the fans who thronged the stadium donning our national colors to cheer on the team. This is the football Kenya that we reminisce about.” Emphasized  Nyamweya 

    Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba rewarded the team with Ksh 10 million on Sunday evening, when he hosted them for dinner.

  • History beckons for the Starlets as they face Burundi for a place in the World Cup finals

    History beckons for the Starlets as they face Burundi for a place in the World Cup finals

    Kenya’s Rising Starlets will host Burundi on Sunday evening for the FIFA Women’s U17 4th round return match at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.

    Starlets, who won the first leg 3-0 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be aiming to rewrite history as the first Kenyan football team to qualify for any FIFA World Cup tournament, and to achieve this, the ladies need just a draw or even a 2-0 defeat to book their ticket.

    The match will be broadcast live on KBC Channel 1 and also broadcast on KBC Radio Taifa from 3:00 p.m. EAT.

    Kenya will be vying for the only remaining slot for the tournament, which will be held in the Dominican Republic from October 16th to November 3rd.

    Teams that have already qualified for the competition are: Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic (host country), Ecuador, England, Japan, the Korea DPR, the Korea Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Spain, the USA, and Zambia.