Advertisement
Tanzania U20 demolish opponents 10–0 in friendly ahead of Kenya clash
05th February, 2026 05:57 PM
Kenya’s U20 ladies’ team’s Rising Starlets task against their Tanzanian counterparts appears to be well cut out as the buildup to the World Cup qualifier’s third-round clash in Nairobi beckons.
With two days to the decisive fixture, the Tanzanite Queens showed their might, dispatching a sorry Emayani Queens 10-0 in a friendly staged on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
The clash was scheduled as part of Bakari Shime’s team preparation ahead of the clash against Jackline Juma’s team, who stand between the East Africans’ side and a place in the fourth and final round qualifier.
Star player
Among those involved in the friendly is Winfirda Gerald, the prolific JKT scoring assassin who is touted to lead the line against Kenya on Saturday.
The striker was part of the JKT Queens’ triumphant run in the 2025 CECAFA Women’s Cup and also part of the team that vanquished Jackline Juma’s Kenya Academy of Sports in the regional competition in the same year.
She has also been included in the senior Women’s provisional WAFCON squad unveiled on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
Shime on Kenyan test
Just like their opponents, the Tanzanite Queens have been hard at work ahead of the encounter. Coach Shime while previewing the clash stated that the team
“We have done all in terms of mental and physical preparedness. The players are well aware of the task ahead and are ready for it. As technical staff, we are fine-tuning one or two issues and ensuring they are set up and they are ready for the clash,” he stated, as quoted by the Tanzania FA.
His remarks come as Kenya equally ramped up preparation for the decisive duel on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex stadium.
FKF president Huseein Mohammed, on Monday, February 2, 2026, rallied fans to turn up in numbers to support the team during the encounter.
Hussein pleads for fans’ support
In a statement on his X page, Mohammed reiterated the significance of psyching up the history-chasing girls ahead of the return leg tie in Tanzania.
“The Rising Starlets are set to face Tanzania on Saturday, 7th February 2026, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in the first leg of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, Let’s unite and fill the stadium with Kenyan pride and rally behind the girls as they chase their World Cup dream. Your presence at the stadium will be a significant boost to their morale and performance,” he implored.
The aggregate winner from the two-legged clash will proceed to the final rounds of qualifier.
