Kenya’s Junior Starlets have achieved historic recognition by earning a nomination for the Women’s Team of the Year award at the 2024 CAF Awards. This nomination comes in the wake of their stellar performance in the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and their historic first-time qualification for the global tournament.
The Junior Starlets will compete in this category against formidable teams including Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and Cameroon.
Historic World Cup Campaign
The Junior Starlets were one of only three African teams alongside Zambia and Nigeria to feature in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, held in the Dominican Republic. They capped off their maiden World Cup campaign with a memorable victory over Mexico in their final group-stage match.
Additional Honors for Kenya
Adding to Kenya’s achievements, head coach Mildred Cheche and forward Valerie Nekesa have also been shortlisted for individual honors at the CAF Awards:
- Coach of the Year: Mildred Cheche
Cheche made history as the first Kenyan coach to lead a team to a FIFA World Cup. Her leadership was pivotal in Kenya’s successful campaign.
- Young Player of the Year: Valerie Nekesa
Seventeen-year-old Nekesa has been recognized for her exceptional contributions on the field. She made history by scoring Kenya’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup and was instrumental in securing Kenya’s qualification with a decisive goal in a 2-0 win over Burundi during the qualifiers.
Award Process and Ceremony
The winners of the CAF Awards will be determined through a voting process involving the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches, and captains of Member Associations, as well as clubs participating in CAF interclub competitions.
The 2024 CAF Awards will honor footballing achievements from January to October 2024. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on December 16, 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco.
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