Mildred Cheche's Junior Starlets take a comfortable 2-0 lead to the second leg but the tactician is urging caution.
The Kenya women’s national U-17 football team, the Junior Starlets, secured a vital 2-0 victory over Uganda in the first leg of their 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier.
Despite this crucial win, head coach Mildred Cheche remains cautious ahead of the second leg, emphasizing the need for continued focus and improvement.
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The first-leg match took place at Uganda’s Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, on Saturday, where Kenya’s young talents displayed dominance and secured a well-earned advantage.
Goals from Edinah Nasipwondi and Joan Ogolla ensured that the Junior Starlets put themselves in a favorable position as they head into the return leg in Nairobi.
However, coach Cheche is adamant that the job is far from over. Speaking to Azam Sports, she highlighted the need for defensive discipline and midfield improvement ahead of the second-leg encounter.
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“We had a good plan with the team. Our goal was to secure at least a point away, and we managed to achieve all three," stated Cheche.
"However, two goals are not enough to guarantee qualification to the next round, so we have to plan effectively. We have a tough task to ensure that we keep a clean sheet and avoid conceding at home,” added the Starlets tactician.
The tactician pointed out that while the team showed great promise in attack, there are key areas that require attention before the decisive match.
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“We have a lot of areas that we need to improve, especially our midfield and defensive line. We learned valuable lessons from this match, and hopefully, at home, we will make the necessary changes,” she added.
Team captain Halima Imbachi echoed her coach’s sentiments, acknowledging that while the first-leg victory was a significant achievement, the team must remain focused.
“To get three points away is a big achievement for us, but the game is not over. As we return home, we are going to give our best to get another three points. We will also correct the mistakes we made today to ensure another victory,” she said.
The second leg is set to take place on Saturday in Nairobi, where the Junior Starlets will seek to build on their advantage and secure their place in the next round of the qualifiers.