The Kenyan national Under-17 football team on Sunday made history after becoming the country’s first ever football team to qualify for World Cup.
Junior Starlets saw off Burundi Junior 2-0 to complete a 5-0 aggregate win in the fourth round qualifiers played at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, Nairobi, that saw Kenya qualify for the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The young talented girls have done what their big brothers Harambee Stars could not do and they have accomplished what their big sisters Harambee Starlets could only dream of.
The 2024 global event for the junior women will be played from October 16 to November 3 in Dominican Republic.
Marion Serenge, who was also on target in the first-leg away in Ethiopia, capitalized off an error from Burundi goalkeeper Solange Marinakiza to give Kenya a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.
Madira Girls High School student Valerie Nekesa then beat two defenders before slotting the ball past Marinakiza for a 2-0 lead.
CECAFA Women’s Football Manager Jean Sseninde congratulated Starlets after the win.
“I am beyond excited that CECAFA region will have a representative at the U17 WWC in the Dominican Republic. The electric atmosphere seen today in Ulinzi Sports Complex is a testament that women football in the region is fully on the rise and has people’s interest.
“We need to keep showing the beauty of women’s football in our region and this is only just the beginning. Massive congratulations to the Junior Starlets of Kenya and hardluck to the Swallows of Burundi. Both teams have given their best,” said Sseninde.
