Junior Starlets coach makes four changes to CECAFA U17 Championship team

Junior Starlets' head coach Mildred Cheche has retained much of her squad ahead of the team's participation in the upcoming 2026 Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) U-17 Women’s Championship, set for Saturday, 13 to Tuesday, 23 June in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

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Cheche, while naming her squad on Friday, 12 June, made just four changes to the team that recently featured in the second round of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup Qualifiers against Uganda.

Among the fresh names coming in include: Jael Nanjala, the returning Lindey Weey, Grace Chari and Elizabeth Awuor, who will be all stepping in for the dropped quartet of Ivy Atieno, Idah Matara, Daisy Adongo and Grace Wangari.

Junior Starlets, who are only one hurdle away from returning to the U17 Women's World Cup, are in Pool A of the CECAFA championships, where they are expected to come up against Tanzania, Somalia and Sudan.

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The CECAFA championship arrives at a crucial moment for Cheche's side, which is looking at using the tournament to continue building cohesion, assess tactical approaches, and gain competitive match experience ahead of their highly anticipated FIFA U17 Women's World Cup final qualifying tie against South Africa in July.

Kenya, who had their final residential training session at Kasarani Annex on Thursday, 11 June, will begin their CECAFA U17 Girls Championship campaign against Sudan on Saturday, 13 June, before facing Somalia on Monday, 15 June. The group stage will thereafter conclude with an encounter against hosts Tanzania on Wednesday, 17 June.

Group B of the competition will feature Uganda, South Sudan and Djibouti.

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Kenya's CECAFA U17 Women's Championship Squad

Goalkeepers

Mishel Okoyo, Martha Wekhomba, Vallary Achieng

Defenders

Namisi Pauline, Jael Nanjala, Boke faith , Atieno Sheila, Grace Mumo, Bevarline Awuor

Midfielders

Bakari Mwanakombo, Beryl Awuor, Khatenje Fleviah, Noelina Akuku, Brenda Awuor, Grace Chari, Gaudancia Maloba, Lindey Weey Atieno

Forwards

Brenda Achieng, Elizabeth Alizeba, Patience Waithira, Emily Adhiambo, Wambui Tabitha, Elizabeth Awuor