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. The match took place at Hamz Stadium in Nakivubo on Saturday March 8, 2025.

Kenya started the game with high intensity, dominating possession and pressing forward with intent. Their efforts paid off in the 36th minute when a perfectly timed over-the-top ball caught the Ugandan defense off guard, setting up Edinah Nasipwondi for a one-on-one opportunity. She calmly slotted the ball home, giving Kenya a 1-0 lead.

Just before the break, Joan Ogolla doubled Kenya’s advantage in the 46th minute, ensuring the Junior Starlets went into halftime with a commanding 2-0 lead.

In the second half, Kenya continued their attacking momentum, but Uganda held firm, preventing further damage. Despite their resilience, the Junior Starlets maintained control and saw out the match to secure a valuable first-leg victory.

Captain Halima Imbachi expressed her joy at the win, stating, “To get three points is a big achievement for us, and as we go home, we’ll give our best to secure three points.”

Coach Mildred Cheche also praised the team’s performance, noting, “We had a good plan with the team. Our goal was to secure three points, whether away or at home, and we were able to achieve that. However, for the second leg, we need to plan effectively because two goals are not enough to guarantee qualification.”

Fresh from their historic World Cup debut in the Dominican Republic, the Junior Starlets are eager to build on that experience and qualify once again.

The return leg is set for Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Nairobi, kicking off at 3:00 PM EAT. The aggregate winner will progress to the third round of the qualification campaign.