Confirmed timing for Junior Starlets’ crucial WCQ against Burundi
The Harambee Junior Starlets will travel to Ethiopia for the fourth and final round of the 2024 Women’s FIFA U17 World Cup qualifier against Burundi.
The Junior Starlets aim to make history as the first Kenyan football team to qualify for the World Cup when they face off on Sunday, June 9, 2024, 3 pm East African Time at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, in the first leg of the crucial two-legged qualifier.
Starlets on brink of history
The Starlets find themselves on the brink of history after a convincing 3-0 victory over Ethiopia in the second leg of the third-round qualification match held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. Goals from skipper Elizabeth, Velma Owuor, and Lorna Faith secured Kenya’s place in the final round. 
Burundi has been formidable on their path to the final round, dominating Djibouti with an 18-0 victory in the first leg of the third-round matches and winning 24-0 on aggregate.
The Under-17 women’s national team assistant coach, Ann Aluoch, believes that playing Burundi in Ethiopia will significantly boost their chances of getting a first leg advantage.
"I think it will be a big advantage for us to play in Ethiopia. Remember, we played in the same stadium against Ethiopia in the first leg of the third round of the qualifier, so we understand the field and weather well. I’m urging my players to stay focused and give it their all. We need a win away to make things easier at home in the second leg," Aluoch said.
The team, set to depart for Addis Ababa on Friday, has played two friendly matches against Police Bullets and Ulinzi Starlets in preparation for the qualifier.
The return leg is scheduled for June 16, 2024, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
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