FIFA WWCQ: Junior Starlets coach demanding fierce mindset ahead of Uganda test
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 08.05.26. | 20:42
The two sides lock horns for the second time in two years in a two-legged second round contest later this month
Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche says she is instilling a World Cup mentality in her squad, with the aim of getting her side to the promised land yet again.
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The Kenya women’s Under 17 team is currently on the journey to make their second-ever World Cup appearance, this coming hot on the heels of their historic qualification two years ago at the Dominican Republic.
To do that, Kenya must first get past East African rivals Uganda in a two-legged second round match-up on Friday, 22 and Saturday, 30 May, before getting over two more hurdles, to finally book a plane to Morocco later this year.
Cheche, having seen her side ease past inexperienced Namibia 7-1 on aggregate in the first round, wants to see more going forward, demanding the highest levels of performance.
“For all of our players we have created a mentality for the World Cup,” Cheche said during Starlets’ training camp on Friday, 8 May. “A World Cup mentality that each match we are playing, we are treating it like a World Cup match, and that there should not be a difference in how we treat England, and how we are going to treat Uganda.”
Chilly evening 🥶, same intensity 💪#JuniorStarlets #U17WWCQ pic.twitter.com/zJRP6XyweU
— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) May 8, 2026
As per Cheche, who voiced her dissatisfaction with how Starlets handled Namibia in the away first leg in Windhoek, a mentality shift from her players is needed, if another World Cup appearance, which will be her second with the team as coach, is to come knocking.
“The mentality they would bring at the World Cup is the same mentality I expect against Uganda,” she said. “The same energy, and the same creativity; that is what are looking for for the rest of the matches.”
Against Uganda, the Junior Starlets come up against a familiar opponent, who they beat by an aggregate score of 5-0 in last year’s second round qualifiers.
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On what to expect from the Teen Cranes, Cheche said: “They are a good team. When they played against Zimbabwe in the first round, they won home and away, so they are very aggressive.”
As a result, Cheche, who is currently working with a 30-player provisional squad, is stopping at nothing to counter their strengths.
“They [Uganda] have speedy players, so we are training our players to be able to tackle, and how to overcome their aggressiveness," she added. "The mentality we are creating is that they are also able to adapt, as compared to previous matches against Namibia, where we were a bit slow.”
The away first leg tie takes place at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba on Friday, 22 May (4PM EAT).