The Kenya National Women’s U17 football team made Kenya proud by becoming the first national football team to ever qualify for the World Cup.

However, given that the girls are still in school and most of them in their final year of high school, there seems to be a collision between the time some of the girls will take part in the World Cup, which begins on October 16th and ends on November 3rd this year, and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)exams which begins on November 4th.

Additionally, the girls are required to take part in a training camp before they head out to the Dominican Republic, which will eat into their time meant to prepare for the KCSE exams.

Meanwhile, the Football Kenya Federation is of the opinion that the girls should take the exams on a later date and focus on the international duty ahead.

The federation has asserted that no girl will be left behind because of the KCSE examinations. The Kenya U17 squad consists of up to eight Form Four students, including forward Marion Serenge from Archbishop Njenga Girls High School and dependable right-back Christine Adhiambo from Nyakach Girls High School.

FKF President Nick Mwenda revealed that the Federation is in talks with the Ministry of Education to allow the eight Form Four students to participate in the World Cup and take the exam in March or on an agreed-upon date.

“I spoke to the Minister about it. We are not going to leave any girl behind because of the Form Four examinations. They have worked so hard to go to the World Cup,” said Mwendwa.

He also assured the Federation’s commitment to ensuring the girls catch up with their studies while still preparing for the global showpiece.

“The World Cup comes once in a lifetime, and we can reschedule the exams to March next year. If necessary, we will carry teachers with us to the camp,” he added.”

On her part Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche, in her post-match press conference, expressed hope for a resolution: 

“We hope the Form Four students in the team will be able to sit for the examinations later so that they can participate in the World Cup.”

Spain’s Lamine Yamal, is an example of player who is participating in the ongoing Euros in Germany for Spain while still a student.

The Junior Starlets achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Kenyan national team to qualify for a World Cup. This remarkable feat follows their 5-0 aggregate victory over Burundi in the fourth and final round of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The decisive match took place on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.