Coach Cheche names Junior Starlets provisional squad for World Cup qualifiers

Kenya U17 women’s coach Mildred Cheche has named a 51-women provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Uganda.

National reigning football champions Butere Girls’ duo Halima Imbachi and Joy Angela Valencia, who were part of Junior Starlets World Cup campaign last year, headline the squad that consists of players who majorly shone at the Kenya Secondary School Association Games last year.

Other players from the Junior Starlets 2024 World Cup squad include Ulinzi Starlets’ duo Velma Abwire and Lorine Illavonga, Scovia Awuor from Kobala Secondary, Nyakach Girls’ defender Jenevieve Mithel, Madira Soccer Assassins’ midfielder Brenda Awuor, Lindy Wee from Sunflower Academy, Mwira Primary School attacker Joan Ogola and Saye’s Quinter Adhiambo.

Notable omissions from the squad include talented winger Lorna Faith Wasike, and Diana Anyango from Butere Girls, speedy attacker and Archbishop Njenga Girls immediate Captain Marion Serenge, and Madira Soccer Assassins forward, Valerie Nekesa, who have already graduated to the Rising Starlets squad.

Junior Starlets will hit camp at Kasarani Annex later this week in preparation for the two-leg affair against Uganda scheduled for March 7-9, 2025 for the first leg, and the return leg scheduled for March 14-16, 2025.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Velma Auma Abwire (Ulinzi Starlets)

Scovia Awuor (Kobala Secondary)

Mitchelle Achieng (Madira Girls)

Ann Wavinya Abednego (Ibubi Girls)

Vallary Achieng (Nyakach Girls)

Malia Rose Nyabera Otondi (Pelham Memorial – New York, USA)

Lorine Illavonga (Ulinzi Starlets)

Jenevieve Mithel (Nyakach Girls)

Patience Asiko (Butere Girls)

Sharline Munasia (Madira Girls)

Kelsey Aoko (Mwitoti Secondary)

Steller Kasichana (Kombani Secondary)

Naomi Kwamboka (Saye School)

Grace Mumo (Madira Girls)

Rose Nangila Wanyonyi (Wiyeta Girls)

Dorcas Glender (Butere Girls)

Julliet Akinyi (Nyakach Girls)

Berine Ikanya (Butere Girls)

Fancy Cheptoo (Trinity Mission)

Rehema Omulubi (Trinity Mission)

Jecinta Ndunge (Mbihi Girls High School)

Midfielders

Halima Imbachi (Butere Girls)

Lindy Weey Atieno (Sunflower Academy)

Brenda Awuor (Madira Girls)

Brigit Maria (Wiyeta Girls)

Merceline Adhiambo (Madira Girls)

Monica Nelima (Saye School)

Pamela Adhiambo (Kombani Secondary)

Serah Wanjiru (Menengai High School)

Gaudancia Maloba (Lwak Girls)

Fleviah Khatenje (St. Joseph Girls)

Tabitha Wambui (Kahawa Primary)

Mwanakombo Nlela Bakari (Mwaroni JSS Ukunda)

Linah Martha (Arch Bishop Njenga)

Princencia Atieno (Saye School)

Sarah Awino (Mwitoti Secondary)

Brenda Achieng (Ugunja Township)

Mitchelle Waithera (Talanta)

Ruth Nanjala (St. Joseph Girls)

Anifa Bakari (Mwira Secondary)

Linet Auma (Wiyeta Girls)

Khadija Furaha Ali (Kobala School)

Beffine Shaley (Kobala School)

Joan Ogola (Mwira Primary)

Judith Nandwa (Unattached)

Quinter Adhiambo Mwendi (Saye School)

Jane Kweyu (Mwitoti Secondary)

Joy Angela Valencia (Butere Girls)

Faith Boke (Lwak Girls)

Joan Agola (Nyakach Girls)

Ruth Akinyi (Starehe Girls High)