Junior Starlets are currently in Morocco ahead of their back-to-back friendly matches against the host nation as they continue preparations for their U-17 World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon.
As the Junior Starlets ramp up their preparations for the crucial U-17 World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon, the team will sharpen their skills with two friendly matches against Morocco.
Head coach Mildred Cheche and her squad landed in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday night and are set to hold their first training session on Thursday evening.
The first friendly will take place on Friday, with the second match scheduled for April 7, 2025. After that, the team will return home to finalise their plans for the decisive qualifiers.
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Cheche believes the timing of these two friendlies is perfect, as they will serve as a critical assessment of the team’s fitness levels, tactical awareness, and technical ability ahead of the showdown with Cameroon.
“The two friendlies will give us match fitness to see where we are as a team and also to give them confidence to play against Cameroon,” Cheche said before departing for Morocco.
Cheche also explained the kind of challenge Morocco will bring before they face a physical Cameroon.
“Morocco keeps the ball mostly. They are a very technical and well-drilled team tactically, so they will give us a good picture ahead of the matches against Cameroon.”
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Team captain Halima Imbachi echoed her coach’s sentiments, stressing that the Morocco matches will be a crucial barometer for the team’s readiness.
“That game will help us gauge where we are as players. I know it is going to help us and boost our fitness,” Imbachi stated.
She also highlighted the squad’s determination, revealing that the team is laser-focused on securing their return to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the second year in a row.
“The morale is great. Players are determined to win that game to get back to the World Cup. It is motivating because we know we only have two games—home and away—and we are trying to win them in order to return to the tournament.”
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Starlets secured their spot in the final qualification round with a commanding 5-0 aggregate victory over Uganda, while Cameroon’s Young Lionesses booked their place by thrashing Ethiopia 6-2.
With Kenya chasing a second consecutive World Cup appearance after their heroics on their debut tournament in the Dominican Republic in December 2024 the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The decisive fixtures against Cameroon are set for April 20, 2025, at Nyayo Stadium, with the return leg slated for April 25, 2025, at Stade Olembe.