CECAFA teams Kenya and Burundi will clash in the final phase of the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Kenyan team qualified after seeing off Ethiopia 3-0 in the second leg of the third round qualifiers in a match played at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Sunday.

After the goalless draw in the first leg played in Addis Ababa, Kenya came all out to finish the job in Nairobi and scored through Elizabeth Ochakaa, Velma Awuor and Lormah Faith. Kenya went on to qualify on a 3-0 goal aggregate.

The Kenyan team, the Junior Starlets will now face Burundi in the final phase of the qualifiers to determine which teams books a ticket to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Burundi eliminated Djibouti on a 24-0 goal aggregate.

On Saturday Uganda’s Teen Cranes  beat Zambia 1-0 with the goal scored by Sylvia Kabene, but the Copper Princesses went on to qualify on a 2-1 goal aggregate. Zambia will now face Morocco, while Liberia take on Nigeria in the final matches of the qualifiers for Africa.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 which will have three qualified teams from Africa and others from different continents will take place in the Dominican Republic later this year starting from 16 October to 3 November, 2024.

Kenyan goalkeeper Lilian Onyango Awour has helped Farul Constanta win the 2023/2024 Romania League title.

Farul Constanta beat Universitatea Cluj 2-1 on Sunday to clinch the title with two more matches to be played. It was also Farul Constanta’s first-ever league title in their first season in top flight football.

Awour who participated in almost every match since joining in February has been instrumental for the team.

Farul thus dethroned Universitatea Cluj, the reigning champion for the previous twelve years. ” Winning the title with Farul Constanta is a very good feeling because it has been real hard work, ” said Awour.

The 24-year-old shot-stopper, who initially signed a three-year deal with Soyaux in January 2022 also had a stint with Olympique De Valence. Before her European ventures, she had a successful spell with Vihiga Queens FC where she also played a pivotal role in the team’s representation at the inaugural 2021 CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt.

Awuor who also features for the national team represented Kenya at the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations.

Burundi brightened their chances of making it to the next stage after they humbled Djibouti 18-0 in the first leg of the third round in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Burundi team took a 7-0 lead at half time in a match played on Sunday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

After recess the Burundi team added 11 goals to silence the Djibouti team. Esterance Habonimana netted seven goals, while Doriane Nzoyikorera scored six goals. Clanceline Akimana netted a brace, while Angle Davina Nibogora, Josephine Majura and Nellyssa Kamikazi scored a goal each.

The return leg will be played at the same stadium on Wednesday with Burundi looking set to make it to the final round of the qualifiers.

In the other match played on Sunday, Uganda suffered a 2-0 away defeat to Zambia at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka. Namute Chileshe and Ruth Mukoma scored for the hosts. Hosts Ethiopia and Kenya also settled for a goalless draw in a match played on Friday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium.

CECAFA is assured of having a team qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since the winner between Djibouti and Burundi will face-off with the winner between Ethiopia and Kenya at the final stage. The winner between Uganda and Zambia and will the winner between Morocco and Algeria in the final phase of the qualifiers.

The other teams battling in the third round include: Senegal, Liberia, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 which will also have three qualified teams from Africa will take place in the Dominican Republic later this year starting from 16 October to 3 November, 2024.

Five teams from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) will battle in the third round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers May 10-12th, 2024.

Ethiopia will take to the pitch first when they host Kenya at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on May 10th i the first leg, while Djibouti will host Burundi at the same stadium two days later.

The Teen Cranes of Uganda under the watchful eyes of Sherly Botes will face a tricky away match against Zambia on May 12th at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

To reach the third round Djibouti earned a walkover Equatorial Guinea, while Burundi ejected Botswana 6-1 on aggregate, and Ethiopia saw-off South Africa 3-0 on aggregate. Kenya benefited from a walkover DR Congo.

Uganda also qualified after a 4-2 goal aggregate against Cameroon. The winner between Uganda and Zambia and will the winner between Morocco and Algeria in the final phase of the qualifiers.

CECAFA is assured of having a team qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since the winner between Djibouti and Burundi will face-off with the winner between Ethiopia and Kenya at the final stage.

The other teams battling in the third round include : Senegal, Liberia, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 which will also have three qualified teams from Africa will take place in the Dominican Republic later this year starting from 16 October to 3 November, 2024.