Kenya’s Rising Starlets chase World Cup dream in Cameroon

• The Rising Starlets take on Cameroon in Yaounde
• This is the third round of the 2024 U20 World Cup qualifiers
• The return leg will be played in Nairobi next weekend

Kenya’s Rising Starlets will look to continue in their hunt for a first ever qualification to the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup when they take on Cameroon in the first leg of the third round of the qualifiers in Yaounde.

Beldine Odemba, the coach who led Kenya’s senior women’s team in dumping the Cameroonians out of the qualifiers for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations will be in town once again, this time looking to end the World Cup dreams of the juniors.

Odemba led the Harambee Starlets to a win over Cameroon on penalties after an aggregate 1-1 draw. They won the second leg 1-0 in Nairobi, having lost to the Indomitable Lionesses by the same margin in the first leg in Douala.

This time, the coach will be in Yaounde, looking to get a good result once again.

“We are going to give a good show in Cameroon and we want to get a win to move into the next round. We will give Cameroon a run for their money and the ambition is to get a good result away from home,” said coach Odemba.

Prepared well and the team is ready for Cameroon 

The Rising Starlets during a training session at Kasarani.

She added; “We have prepared well and the team is ready. Though we have not had many days to train, we have worked hard with the time we had to ensure that the team has gelled and is ready to go.”

Starlets progressed to the third round after seeing off Angola 10-1 while Cameroon progressed after a 6-1 aggregate victory over Botswana.

Ahead of the match away from home, Starlets will be missing several players who have been ruled out as they sit for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams and will be unavailable for both home and away legs.

Two starters from the team that played against Angola; Mollyne Akinyi and Jane Hato will miss the trip.

But, the tactician will still remain with a good chunk of the squad that dazzled the Angolans and believes the team will still be as strong.

Absence of key players will be felt 

The Rising Starlets during a training session at Kasarani.

“Yes the absence is felt, but not as much. We have brought in replacements because we had a lot of talent even from our initial squad. The biggest job has been gelling them into the team because they are really talented and understand our tactical approaches and how we want them to play,” said Odemba.

She has admitted that pressure will be on the team’s shoulders and expectations will be high, especially based on their performance in the previous matches. But Odemba says the team is not feeling the heat and will be travelling away to express themselves and come back home with victory.

Travelling Squad

Goalkeepers

Scovia Awuor, Christine Omolo, Ivonne Minage.

Defenders

Rebecca Kwoba, Rachel Adhiambo, Dorcas Glender, Judith Nandwa, Ruth Akinyi, Ann Brenda Ochieng, Tabitha Amoit, Redempter Mercy, Sharon Vidah Okeyo.

Midfielders

Clotilda Auma, Elizabeth Muteshi, Hellen Mito, Sunira Manda Were

Forwards

Valerie Leah Nekesa, Charity Midewa, Anna Nabwire Arusi,  Elizabeth Mideva, Sharlyne Opisa, Fasila Odhiambo, Emilly Okute