The national U17 women’s team has set base in Kampala, Uganda and will begin its quest for a back-to-back FIFA World Cup qualification against the Crested Cranes tomorrow afternoon at the Nakivubo Stadium.

Juniors Starlets which has set the ‘marking-scheme’ of Kenyan football following their monumental qualification to the U17 World Cup last year in the Dominican Republic is brimming with optimism ahead of their second-round tie against neighbors Uganda, seeking victory to go a step closer to another sporting milestone.

Head coach Mildred Cheche says featuring in the global showpiece last year gives Kenya an edge against their opponents who are seeking a maiden qualification.

“It gives us an edge because of the massive exposure that our players got from taking part in the U17 World Cup. The players who featured in that tournament are encouraging the new faces in the team about the goodness of playing on that big stage. That gives the team needed morale to perform well in the search for another qualification. There is that desire to fight for something and to remain at the top,” Coach Cheche told People Sport.

Coach Cheche who is leading the team for the second time named a strong squad for the Kampala assignment. The listed travelling party includes Kenya Police Bullets’ defender Elizabeth Ochaka who captained Junior Starlets at the World Cup in Dominicano.

Ochaka, was not named in the provisional squad and had even graduated to the senior national side Harambee Starlets, drafted in the final team that faced Tunisia last month in the 2026 WAFCON Qualifiers.

Other familiar faces who were part of world cup squad are Halima Imbachi who is the new captain, Mitshel Waithera, Lorine Ilavonga, Jenevive Mithel, Elizabeth Ochaka, Joy Angela Valencia, Joan Ogola, and Lindy Weey Atieno.

Uganda thrashed Namibia 18-1 on aggregate (0-10 and 8-1) to book a spot in the second round of this qualification campaign.

However, that resounding result for Kenya’s hosts does not scare coach Cheche ahead of the showdown tomorrow afternoon.

“We cannot say that the match will be easy. It will not be easy for sure but more so, we cannot afford to discourage ourselves on our potential to give a good fight. In this case, the quality of the opponent is different. Uganda themselves know that Kenya is different from Namibia and therefore it will be a different ball-game for each team. The most determined team will carry the day,” Cheche added.

The return leg will be staged in Nairobi on March 16 and the aggregate winner of the tie will face either Cameroon or Ethiopia in the third and final round of the qualifiers.