Former Harambee Starlets boss backs Rising Starlets to seal World Cup qualification
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 12.02.26. | 07:40
Jackline Juma’s side edged neighbours Tanzania 1-0 on Saturday, 7 February, courtesy of Elizabeth Mideva’s 84th-minute strike at the Ulinzi Sports Complex
Former Harambee Starlets tactician Alex Alumira has backed Rising Starlets to qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup despite the threat posed by Tanzania.
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Jackline Juma’s side edged neighbors Tanzania 1-0 on Saturday, 7 February, courtesy of Elizabeth Mideva’s 84th-minute strike at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
The narrow win handed Kenya a crucial advantage heading into the return leg scheduled for Saturday, 14 February, at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Alumira, who also serves as Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Head of Football Education and School Football Programs, said the first-leg victory injected confidence into the squad ahead of the decisive away tie.
“I’m confident that they will beat Tanzania in their backyard and qualify for the final round. I watched the first leg match, and I was really impressed by the mental strength coach Juma instilled in the girls.
Most of the players graduated from the U-17 side, which took part in the 2024 World Cup in the Dominican Republic, and that speaks volumes about the chemistry between coach Juma and Mildred Cheche,” he told Citizen Digital.
Drawing from his experience in women’s football, Alumira emphasized the importance of composure and focus in high-stakes matches.
“According to my vast experience in women’s football, this is a big stage, and having the advantage from the first leg, the ladies need to focus and maintain mental strength. Tanzania will have the advantage of playing at home, and, as I know them, they will play attacking football, so our defense needs to be solid. I can’t go deep into the tactical approach because the coach understands the players better based on the training they have done. I saw some sections of fans calling on the coach to bring in Emily Moranga early, but she is the one who understands her fitness levels best."
“Let’s give Coach Juma space to lead the team, and I’m sure we will beat Tanzania and go on to qualify for the World Cup.”
The Rising Starlets arrived in Dar es Salaam on Monday, 10 February, and have since intensified preparations for the high-stakes clash.
Should Kenya overcome Tanzania, they will face either Botswana or continental heavyweights Cameroon in the final qualification round.
The winner will secure a ticket to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Poland, set for September 5 to 27, 2027.