Junior Starlets' World Cup dreams dashed by rampant Cameroon

Kenya women’s U17 national team - Junior Starlets - will not participate in this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup after suffering a 3-1 (4-1 on aggregate) defeat to Cameroon in the second-leg of their final round of qualifiers staged at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde on Friday 25 April.

The Junior Starlets, who had lost the home first-leg 1-0, were in need of a two-goal turnaround to seal their place in back-to-back world cups, only to fall flat on their deciding night up west, killing the hopes of an expectant nation.

Billed as a game Kenya had everything to play for, Mildred Cheche’s side trailed early through a seemingly frail sixth-minute shot from Avana D Ze Beatrice that ripped up the Starlets’ playbook, forcing them to play catch-up, just as in the first-leg.

Kenyan skipper Elizabeth Ochaka however breathed some life in the contest with a superb equalizer from the penalty spot, only for the hosts to respond seconds later, capitalizing on a rare show of lacklustre Starlets defending.

The final nail on the proverbial coffin came with five minutes left on the clock, when Tiwa Melong Lys Fraiche converted from the spot after being brought down, booking the Baby Lionesses a first trip to the World Cup since 2018.

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When the Junior Starlets trailed last weekend, it was easier to place that as the headline, given the way they had dominated their opponents all through this, and last year's set of qualifiers.

A loss in the end was treated as a minor blip, but things took a different turn when rather than scoring an early goal, Starlets trailed -again - after only six minutes.

A fortuitous cross from the right fell into the path of Avana, who would have been surprised to see her tame shot trouble Velma Abwire and trickle into the net.

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In desperate need of a fight-back, Kenya, who made two changes from their reverse tie, were clearly second-best, carving up only two chances worth grabbing the attention of home keepr Jessica Mabou.

One came via Joan Ogola, who fired a shot over the bar when clear in the 28th minute, while Mitshel Waithera hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

A furious start to the second-half seemed to bear instant fruits to the visitors after Wendji Nde Yvana was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box, with Ochaka rifling her spot-kick to the top-right corner.

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Game on we thought, only for Cameroon to take advantage of a ridiculous lapse of concentration from the Kenyan defense, just seconds from the restart.

All it took was Judith Nandwa to cough up possession, handing the initiative to Avana to turn provider, finding Tazanou Ange unmarked to slot in past Abwire.

That, again, could have made the headlines, but offered a grim picture of a remarkable and historic story coming to its end.

A rash foul from Lorine Ilavonga inside the box later on confirmed it all: the Junior Starlets' star had been dimmed.