Junior Starlets depart for Yaoundé with World Cup ticket in mind

Junior Starlets left the country on Wednesday morning with back-to-back World Cup tickets in mind and PS Mwangi backed the Mildred Cheche coached side to upstage Cameroon after going down in the first leg of the third round of the qualifiers at Nyayo Stadium last Sunday.

Speaking during his visit at the team’s camp, Mwangi praised the youngsters’ resilience and determination.

“These young girls have shown resilience. Reaching this stage is a testament to their determination. For them, it's already an achievement, and for us, it’s our duty to support and develop their talent. I’ve heard their promise to bring a win, and we’ve also promised to reward them—not just to motivate them, but to keep the spirit of the game alive,” he said.

Team captain Halima Imbachi acknowledged the pressure and called on Kenyans to rally behind the team even as she apologised for losing in the first leg.

“First, I want to apologise to Kenyans—we didn’t win at home. Please continue supporting us and keep us in your prayers. We’ve worked hard in training, corrected our mistakes from the first leg, and we’re ready to give our all. I believe we’ll come back with a win,” she said.

Despite the setback in the first leg, Cheche remains optimistic they will overturn the first leg result and punch a ticket to the grandest stage-the World Cup to be held in Morocco in November.

“It’s going to be a very tough match, but we have everything to play for—and they [Cameroon] have everything to lose. The second half of the first leg showed our potential, with the number of chances we created,” said Cheche.

“We need to instil even more mental toughness and fighting spirit. The team already has it. Now, it’s about enhancing our speed, using our strengths, and scoring an early goal to turn the tide in our favour.”

Victory in Yaoundé will mark a historic feat for the Junior Starlets following their maiden appearance in the Dominican Republic in 2024.