Rising Starlets provisional squad for U20 WC Qualifiers named, camp enters Day Two

Kenya U20 women’s national team - Rising Starlets - head coach Beldine Odemba on Monday 2 October named her provisional squad set to battle it out in the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers later this week.

Kenya begin their qualification journey for next year’s tournament in Colombia with a second qualification round two-legged tie against Angola.

Based on the FIFA rankings, the two sides avoided playing in the first round of the qualifiers played between 1 – 10 September, and will now start their quest to represent the continent with two games on a home and away basis.

The winner on aggregate after both rounds will qualify to the third round scheduled for 12 – 19 November 2023.

With the first leg tie slated for Sunday 8 October in Nairobi, the group of 30 players called up joined camp at the Kasarani Annex Grounds on Saturday 30 September, with 24 training in Day 2 on Monday.

Angola will arrive in the country on Friday 6 October, with them hosting the second leg fixture on Saturday October 14 2023.

The winner of the tie on aggregate will face the winner of the second-round tie pitting Cameroon against Botswana.

Kenya’s quest to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Costa Rica last year was ended in the first stage after the Rising Starlets suffered a heavy 10-3 loss on aggregate to neighbors Uganda at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kampala, Uganda October 2021.

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Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Nelly Achieng (Soccer Assassins), Judith Okumu (Butere Girls), Scovia Awuor (Sigtuna Football Academy), Christine Omolo (Butere Girls)

Defenders

Dorcas Glenda (Red Commandos), Ruth Akinyi (Nasokol Girls), Charity Luhavi (Wiyeta Girls), Mollyne Akinyi (Acakoro), Velma Kaveza (Itigo girls), Purity Awino (Nairobi Starlets), Anne Brenda Achieng (Macmillan Queens), Elizabeth Ochaka (Butere Girls)

Midfielders

Clotilda Auma (Butere Girls), Hellen Auma (Soccer Assassins), Jane Hato (Soccer Assassins), Susan Akoth (Acakoro), Jerrine Adhiambo (Soccer Assassins), Faith Atieno (Soccer Assassins), Anno Halima Dima (Kayole Starlet), Elizabeth Muteshi (Nakuru City Queens), Rebecca Kwoba (Zetech Sparks), Rachel Adhiambo (Acakoro)

Forwards

Elizabeth Mideva (Arch Bishop Njenga), Fasila Adhiambo (Ulinzi Starlets), Valerie Nekesa (Soccer Assassins), Faith Naliaka (Bukhaywa Secondary School), Anne Nabwire (Zetech Sparks), Marion Serenge (Arch Bishop Njenga), Charity Midewa (Soccer Assassins), Emily Okute (Gaspo Women)