Kenya U17 Girls team coach Mildred Cheche has taken a cautious approach ahead of the second leg tie against Uganda this Saturday, March 15, 2025.

Kenya heads into the tie with a two-goal advantage after edging the neighbourly side 2-0 on Saturday and Cheche believes the team will still need to follow up with an equally decent performance in the return leg.

Cheche, who oversaw the team edging closer to another World Cup qualification, will be out to guide the young guns in their bid for back-to-back qualifications.

The Junior Starlets made history as the first ever Kenyan football team to feature in a World Cup game after qualifying for the global showpiece edition of 2024 in Dominican Republic.

“The game is still tough as we can’t say it’s a job done and we have already won. Until we play the  90 minutes of the second leg and finish up with it, it is when we can call it. If we get one point or three at home it will be good with us,” the coach said in an interview upon the team’s return.

Goals from Joan Ogolla and Ednah Nasipwondi in the opening half of the clash proved sufficient for Kenya to claim the victory.

Starlets entered the competition in the second rounds after getting a bye in the opening rounds by virtue of their past qualification to the World Cup.

Speaking at the same function, Junior Starlets midfielder Linda Atieno who was instrumental in the clash with a impressive midfield show, said they will ready for any challenger awaiting them.

Rising Starlets will be relishing the chance to meet either of the West African or Ethiopians in the next phase with only the task of avoiding defeat enough to secure their passage.

“We are ready to take on any opponents in the next phase. We want the three points be it against Cameroon or Ethiopia. I am very ready for the clash. Let them bring it on. We don’t dwell much on the ages of our opponents. We just focus on the game and be ready to perform,” Atieno, who provided a sublime assist to Joan Ogolla for the second goal, stated.

The return leg tie will be staged at the Ulinzi Complex stadium.