East African derby awaits as Junior Starlets battle Uganda for World Cup dream
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 22.05.26. | 08:29
The first-leg clash of the second-round tie will kick off at the FUFA Stadium from 4:00 pm, with both neighbors eyeing a crucial advantage in the race to the global tournament
Kenya’s U17 women’s national team, the Junior Starlets, are set for another fierce East African showdown against Uganda’s Teen Cranes in the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers on Friday, 22 May.
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The first-leg clash of the second-round tie will kick off at the FUFA Stadium from 4:00 pm, with both neighbors eyeing a crucial advantage in the race to the global tournament.
Kenya booked their place in the round after cruising past Namibia 7-1 on aggregate in April, while Uganda also impressed after hammering Zimbabwe 6-1 over two legs.
The encounter rekindles a growing rivalry between the two sides, who also met during the 2025 qualification campaign, where Kenya dominated to secure a commanding 5-0 aggregate victory.
Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche expects a much tougher challenge this time round, warning her players against underestimating the hosts.
“We are expecting a higher resistance from Uganda because winning twice against a team is not easy, and so they will make it difficult for us, but we have prepared our team mentally that it is going to be a tough match, so we will have to fight until the very end for us to get a positive result,” said Cheche.
The tactician, who guided Kenya to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in 2024, believes efficiency in front of goal will be key if her side is to leave Kampala with a positive result.
“What will count for us is utilizing the chances that we create. We have good midfielders and strikers who will create chances, and so the big task is to bury them,” she added.
🎙️Uganda U17 Women's National Football Team (Teen Cranes) head coach Sheryl Botes believes that they will be better as a nation when they come against competative teams like Kenya. #Pepeta #FIFAU17WWCQ pic.twitter.com/LhX4oWVNZJ
— Pepeta (@pepeta_ke) May 21, 2026
However, Kenya could be forced into a late change with forward Noela Akuku facing a fitness test after falling ill ahead of the highly anticipated contest.
The return leg is scheduled for Saturday, 30 May, at Nyayo National Stadium, where the winner on aggregate will move a step closer to sealing a place at the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifier
— JOLLED 🏀 (@Chrispusbaluku7) May 21, 2026
Friday (FUFA Stadium, Kadiba)
Uganda v Kenya 4pm
Second Leg
May 30 (Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi)
Kenya v Uganda
Uganda’s Teen Cranes will on Friday host regional rivals Kenya in the first leg of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup… pic.twitter.com/9wVUSmKFmD