Kenya’s U-17 Women’s national team, the Junior Starlets, sent a loud warning to the rest of the continent on Saturday afternoon, dismantling Namibia 5-0 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex to advance to the next round of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The dominant performance saw the Starlets progress with a commanding 7-1 aggregate scoreline, following their 2-1 first-leg victory in Windhoek last week.
From the first whistle, the Kenyans showed why they are favorites to return to the global stage. Brenda Achieng was the star of the show, netting a clinical hat-trick that left the Namibian defense in tatters.
Emily Adhiambo and Elizabeth Opiya added the gloss to the scoreline, ensuring a comfortable afternoon for the home fans in Nairobi.
Speaking after the match, Junior Starlets Head Coach Mildred Cheche praised her team’s clinical edge but remained grounded about the journey ahead.
“We wanted to be more clinical than we were in the first leg, and the girls delivered. We have a young squad, many of whom are just beginning to understand the demands of international football, but their discipline today was top-notch,” Cheche noted.
“Our focus now shifts immediately to the next opponent. We are taking it one game at a time.”
On the other side, Namibia’s Technical Director and stand-in coach Nicolas Josephs conceded that the Kenyan side was superior in both fitness and tactical execution.
“Kenya has a very structural approach to women’s football that we are still trying to build in Namibia,” Josephs admitted.
“The 5-0 scoreline is a tough pill to swallow, but it shows us the level we need to reach. We congratulate them and wish them luck as they represent the region.”
The Junior Starlets’ victory ensures that the CECAFA region remains a powerhouse in African women’s youth football. With Uganda’s Teen Cranes also in the mix, the path to the 2026 World Cup is increasingly looking like an East African affair.
Kenya, who made history by qualifying for the 2024 World Cup in the Dominican Republic, are desperate to prove that their debut wasn’t a fluke.
The possibility of a Kenya vs. Uganda showdown in the final rounds remains a tantalizing prospect for fans across the border.
The Junior Starlets will now wait for the winner between Zimbabwe and Uganda (if the bracket holds) to determine their next hurdle in the quest for World Cup glory.
