Cheche confident in Junior Starlets as World Cup preparations hit top gear
By Joel Masibo, March 26, 2026Head coach Mildred Cheche has expressed confidence in the Junior Starlets squad ahead of Kenya’s upcoming FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Namibia.
The two-legged tie will see Kenya begin their campaign away, with the first leg scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026, before returning home for the decisive second leg on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Nairobi.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, as the team continues preparation for the particular ties at Kasarani Stadium, Cheche said the technical bench has assembled most of the players from various parts of the country to join a handful of the existing members.
She added that most of the girls transitioned to the U20 side, but she still has confidence in the new crop of players set to do duty against Namibia. Cheche is expected to unleash the skills she recently acquired in the FIFA Elite Mentorship Program to steer the national team.
Bracing for Namibia
”We have a young squad, a new one because most of our players transitioned to U20. So we selected a young team from various parts of the country. Against Namibia, we have not played them before; this is the first time, we do not know their playing style, so we are preparing ourselves as best we know, and we shall see how it goes because it is one game at a time,” Cheche said.
”I think we are going to build a good team, we have a blend of new and old players, and they are adapting well.” She added.
Coach Cheche has named a balanced squad blending experience from previous international assignments with emerging talent, as the team looks to secure a place on the global stage once again.
The Junior Starlets will be aiming to make a strong statement in the first leg in Namibia, before leveraging home advantage in Nairobi to seal qualification in front of their supporters.
With the qualifiers just getting underway, the team will be focused on navigating each round step by step, with the ultimate goal of going all the way and moving past the final hurdle to secure qualification, building on lessons from last year’s campaign, where they fell to Cameroon in the final decisive stage.
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers
Mitshel Ng’ono (Wiyeta girls), Vallary Achieng (Nyakach girls), Martha Mitchelle (Nasokol girls), Roseline Achondo(Tumaini Secondary)
Defenders
Pauline Namisi (Desert scorpions), Faith Boke (Butere girls), Idah Matara (Nyakach girls), Ruth Barasa (Wiyeta girls), Daisy Adongo (Gideon starlets), Sheila Atieno (Nyakach girls), Grace Mumo (Madira girls), Rose Nangila (Amus college), Brenda Otieno (Kobala secondary)
Midfielders
Bevarline Awuor (Mathare United), Bakari Mwanakombo (Kombani secondary), Brenda Awuor(Madira girls), Gaudancia Maloba (Lwak girls), Noelina Akuku (Butere girls), Lindi Weey Atieno (Madira girls), Beryl Awuor (Nyakach girls), Fleviah Khatenje (St. Joseph girls kitale)
Forwards
Brenda Achieng (Kakamega hill), Patience Waithera (St. Joseph Murang’a), Khadija Furaha (Kobala Secondary), Emily Adhiambo (Nyakach girls), Tabitha Wambui (Madira girls), Ivy Atieno (St. Joseph girls kitale), Lilyann Adhiambo (Kibera soccer women), Melvin Vugutsa (Annet Mixed secondary), Elizabeth Alizeba (Oding JSS)