FIFA U20 WWC Q: Rising Starlets face second leg test after Addis stalemate
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 21.09.25. | 18:18
Kenya took the lead after 44 seconds, only for a goalkeeper gaffe to hand the hosts the equalizer
Kenya U20 women’s national football team ,Rising Starlets, will have their work cut out in the second leg of the 2026 FIFA World Cup second round qualifiers after settling for a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on Sunday, 21 September.
Starlets, who were seeking to get a precious advantage on the road, took the lead after only 44 seconds through Elizabeth Mideva, but were pegged back midway through the second half to leave the tie on the balance.
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Playing in the rain and on an extremely soggy pitch, Jackline Juma’s side had a dream start to the game after nailing a quick move from kickoff, which ended up with Emily Morang’a attempting a shot from wide.
Her effort, though faint, did well to trouble Abeba Ajebo in goal, as she spilled the ball to invite Mideva to toe-poke it into the net.
On the ascendancy, Starlets threatened to double their lead immediately after the opener, and should have won a penalty after pacy Morang’a was bundled inside the box.
FT
— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) September 21, 2025
It ends even
Good job girls👏
On to the next, On Sunday 28th, 2025 at Ulinzi Sports Complex
Before uende TEMS, come support the girls😎#RisingStarlets pic.twitter.com/aLtrtyyPYz
It took till the 12th minute for Kenya’s keeper Christine Adhiambo to be called to action, and she had a string of saves to make, notably repelling long-range shots from Emush Daniels.
Fasila Adhiambo, handed the reins as skipper, almost doubled Kenya’s lead at the half-hour mark, only for her direct corner to be saved.
With a lead at halftime, Ethiopia peppered Kenya’s goal in the second-half, but it was the visitors who almost scored from the counter, Abeba forced to stretch to her right to repel a goal-bound shot.
Ethiopia’s persistence finally paid dividends in the 65th minute after Daniel’s tame snapshot from near the 18-yard box slipped through Adhiambo’s hands and into the net.
The big number nine then almost bagged a brace two minutes later, only for her effort to draw a big save from Adhiambo.
The final embers of the game saw little threat, with both sides content to slug it out in the crucial second-leg set for Sunday, 28 September at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
The aggregate winner of the tie will progress to the third round, where either Tanzania or Angola await in February 2026.
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