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Junior Starlets duo fire warning shots to Uganda ahead of FIFA U17 WWCQ decider
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 28.05.26. | 10:08
The Teen Cranes settled for a point against Mildred Cheche's side in last week's home first-leg
Junior Starlets duo of Pauline Namisi and Emily Adhiambo say they are geared up for the second leg of their FIFA Women’s U17 second round Qualifiers against Uganda on Saturday, 30 May.
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The pair, who all featured in the away first leg last week, say their experience in the 1-1 draw at the FUFA Stadium in Kadiba has given them a feel of what to expect, come the return meeting on home soil at the Nyayo National Stadium.
“In the first leg, Uganda had the mentality that we couldn’t get a point from their place, and they would beat us,” Namisi said during Starlet’s training session on Wednesday, 27 May. “They are a good team, but knowing that we had to win both ties, we fought hard and got the important point.”
In that tie, hosts Uganda took an early lead through Shadia Nabirye, before second half substitute Adhiambo scored an audacious stunner to level the scores at the hour mark, and set the stage for a winner-takes-all sequel.
“Being at home definitely means that have to win,” Namisi, a defender, added. “Having played them, we now know their strengths and weaknesses, and I urge all my fellow players to work on their speed, and let us beat them to their own game.”
In the aftermath of the stalemate, Kenya’s head coach Mildred Cheche attributed their slow start to players panicking of being away from their home fans.
As a result, goal-scorer Adhiambo is relying on the Kenyan fans to show up on Sunday, and push the team over the line.
“Fans will be very important, and so I urge them to come in numbers,” Adhiambo said. “Our fans expect a win, and with their support we will deliver the win. After the first-leg draw, we saw the mistakes we did, and we must correct here.”
The two sides recently crossed paths during the 2025 qualification campaign, where Kenya comfortably eliminated the Teen Cranes 5-0 on aggregate, after securing a 2-0 victory in Kampala, before sealing the tie with a 3-0 win in Nairobi.
Should Kenya get through, a third and final qualification round awaits them between 3-12 July.