Rising Starlets suffer defeat to England in FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

Valeria Nekesa of Kenya in action against England. [Harambee Starlets,X]

The Kenya Junior Starlets suffered a disappointing start in their debut at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, falling 2-0 to England in their opening Group C match on Friday at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

Despite showing promise early on, Coach Mildred Cheche’s team struggled to convert their chances and ultimately paid the price for defensive mistakes.

Making their first appearance on the world stage, the Junior Starlets began brightly, matching England's pace and pressing for an early lead.

The attacking duo of Marion Serenge and Valerie Nekesa worked tirelessly, keeping the English defense under pressure but failing to find the decisive breakthrough.

The first major setback for Kenya came in the 29th minute when they conceded a penalty. Lola Sangita Brown stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home, giving England the advantage.

Despite their best efforts, the Junior Starlets couldn’t find a way back into the game, and their hopes of securing a point were dashed when Lauryn Ida Belle Thompson added a second goal for England in the 87th minute, sealing the win.

Coach Cheche remained positive after the match, expressing her pride in the team’s effort despite the loss.

"Although we lost our opening match, I am happy that the team gave their best but made a few mistakes, especially defensively," she said. "We must now prepare for the next match against Korea DPR."

The Junior Starlets now face a daunting task in their next Group C clash against Korea DPR, who demonstrated their strength by thrashing Mexico 4-1 in their opener. Korea DPR currently sit at the top of the group, while Kenya finds itself in third place, ahead of Mexico.

The Junior Starlets will need a win to keep their hopes of advancing alive, with the top two teams from each group set to move on to the quarterfinals.

Kenya will conclude their group stage campaign on October 24, 2024, when they face Mexico. This year's tournament is the last edition featuring 16 teams, as the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will expand to 24 teams starting in 2025, increasing the level of competition.

As Kenya looks ahead to their next match, the team remains determined to improve their performance and make a mark in their debut World Cup appearance.