How Junior Starlets qualified for World Cup
Kenya’s Junior Starlets made history after a 2-0 win over Burundi at the Ulinzi Sports Complex secured them a spot at this year’s Fifa-U17 World Cup.
Two goals from Marion Serenge and Leah Nekesa in the return fixture confirmed Starlets' dominance over Burundi, consequently booking the first-ever Kenyan ticket to the World Cup.
The Junior Starlets blitzed through the qualifiers without conceding a single goal, while they managed to put eight goals past their opponents.
Witnessed and celebrated by thousands, Junior Starlets’ promotion has been brewing for months before the decider at the Ulinzi Complex.
Starlets’ journey
Kenya was set to face DR Congo, away, on February 4, 2024, in their first leg encounter before hosting the reverse fixture on February 11, 2024, in Nairobi in the second round of the Fifa-U17 World Cup Qualifiers, but the Junior Starlets sailed into the third round without kicking a ball as Congo withdrew.
Starlets’ next assignment would come against neighbors Ethiopia in the third round of the qualifiers. After a goalless draw in Addis Ababa, Starlets produced a stellar performance to win 3-0 in the return leg played at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
The 3-0 aggregate win over Ethiopia set up the all-important clash against Burundi in the fourth round of the qualifiers. Starlets were at it again, breezing 3-0 in the first leg of the fourth-round fixture that was played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This set up the junior women’s side for a comfortable home return match at the Ulinzi Complex on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Kenya needed under 20 minutes to assert their dominance as in form forward Marion Serenge capitalized on a Burundi defensive error to net the home team’s opener in the 16th minute. 
Barely five minutes later, striker Leah Nekesa collecting a pass from Susan Akoth made an incisive run before slotting the ball into the low left corner, extending Kenya’s cumulative advantage to 5-0.
Junior Starlets will play in their debut World Cup alongside two other African representatives in Nigeria and Zambia. Nigeria will be making their eighth appearance at the tournament while it will be a second appearance for Zambia.
Kenya joins hosts Dominican Republic, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, England, Japan, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Spain, the USA, and Zambia as the teams that have qualified for the tournament.
Junior Starlets line up against Burundi:
Starting XI: Velma Auma (GK), Kimberly Akinyi, Susan Akoth, Lorine Ilavonga, Elizabeth Ochaka, Rebecca Odato, Velma Awour, Christine Adhiambo, Lorna Faith, Valerie Nekesa, and Marion Serenge.
Subs: Ephy Awour, Shyril Atieno, Claire Meris, Mitchel Jenevive, Quinter Adhiambo, Linday Atieno, Halima Imbachi, Mitchell Waithera, Joan Ogola, and Diana Onyango
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