High hopes as Odemba names Starlets World Cup qualifying squad
By Joel Sang, October 3, 2023
Rising Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has named a provisional squad that will face Angola in the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.
Angola and Kenya were given a bye from taking part in the first round based on their FIFA rankings. The first round of actions was staged between September 1 and 10, and its conclusion will pave the way for the next round.
Starlets’ possible next game
The winner between Rising Starlets and the Southern African country will qualify for the third round scheduled between November 12 and November 19 this year.
The summoned players will train at Moi International Sports Complex ahead of the anticipated game. Kenya will host Angola on Sunday, October 8, in Nairobi.
Should Kenya emerge as an aggregate winner, they face the winner of the second-round tie, pitting Cameroon against Botswana.
Hopes are high for Rising Starlets given that they are coached by Odemba, who recently guided the senior side to the second round of Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualification.
After falling to a 1-0 loss to Cameroon, Harambee Starlets dusted themselves off and beat the African giants in the penalty shootout in Nairobi.
Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Nelly Achieng (Soccer Assassins), Judith Okumu (Butere Girls), Scovia Awuor (Sigtuna Football Academy), Christine Omolo (Butere Girls)
Defenders: Dorcas Glenda (Red Commandos), Ruth Akinyi (Nasokol Girls), Charity Luhavi (Wiyeta Girls), Mollyne Akinyi (Acakoro), Velma Kaveza (Itigo girls), Purity Awino (Nairobi Starlets), Anne Brenda Achieng (Macmillan Queens), Elizabeth Ochaka (Butere Girls)
Midfielders: Clotilda Auma (Butere Girls), Hellen Auma (Soccer Assassins), Jane Hato (Soccer Assassins), Susan Akoth (Acakoro), Jerrine Adhiambo (Soccer Assassins), Faith Atieno (Soccer Assassins), Anno Halima Dima (Kayole Starlet), Elizabeth Muteshi (Nakuru City Queens), Rebecca Kwoba (Zetech Sparks), Rachel Adhiambo (Acakoro)
Forwards: Elizabeth Mideva (Arch Bishop Njenga), Fasila Adhiambo (Ulinzi Starlets), Valerie Nekesa (Soccer Assassins), Faith Naliaka (Bukhaywa Secondary School), Anne Nabwire (Zetech Sparks), Marion Serenge (Arch Bishop Njenga), Charity Midewa (Soccer Assassins), Emily Okute (Gaspo Women)