The Kenya Junior Starlets head coach Midred Cheche has today named the final squad of 23 players ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024.

Kenya who will also carry the CECAFA flag are placed in Group C alongside Mexico, England and Korea DPR.

The Dominican Republic will host the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2024 from October 16 to November 3rd, 2024.

During the official flag-off of the team at the State House in Nairobi, President William Samoei Ruto said that he will support the three players who made a huge contribution in the qualification of the team, but did not make the final squad to travel to the Dominican Republic to go and support the team.

Coach Cheche’s team that will start their campaign against England on October 18^th will travel to Spain on Thursday for a pre-World Cup camp where they will also play several friendly matches.

The Junior Starlets will make history by becoming the first Kenyan team to participate in a football World Cup at any level.

“We’ve improved in several areas where we had gaps and strengthened the team. Playing internationally is different from regional competitions, as we will meet the best of the best, and we need to be prepared,” said the coach on Wednesday.

She made it clear that the training camp in Spain will further prepare the team for the tough matches they will play in the World Cup. “Playing teams in Spain will prepare the girls well. All teams in the World Cup are really strong, and being our first time, we are seen as underdogs,” she added.

To qualify for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Kenya had a walkover DR Congo in the second round, ejected Ethiopia 3-0 on aggregate in the third round, and saw off Burundi 5-0 on aggregate in the final phase.

Final Squad

Goalkeepers: Velma Auma, Ephy Awuor, Scovia Awuor

Defenders: Elizabeth Ochaka, Lorine Ilavonga, Jenevieve Mithel, Christine Adhiambo, Kimberly Akinyi, Diana Anyango

Midfielders: Velma Awuor, Brenda Awuor, Halima Imbachi, Rebecca Odato, Susan Akoth, Lindi Weey Atieno, Pearl Olesi, Lorna Faith

Forwards: Valerie Nekesa, Joan Ogola, Marion Serenge, Quinter Adhiambo, Jane Kweyu, Joy Angela Valencia

Ethiopia’s top female player Geinore Loza Abera has said she is happy to finally sign for a team in the First Division United States Professional League.

DC Power FC who will make their inaugural 2024/2025 USL Super League season on September 13^th announced Loza Abera’s signing last week.

“I am very happy to finally sign a contract with DC Power FC and I will work hard to help the team win matches and Cups,” says Loza Abera who has captained Ethiopia’s women’s teams at all levels.

The top striker last year moved from Commercial Bank of Ethiopia to join USL Women’s League Virginia Marauders FC.

Frédéric Brillant, the DC Power FC head coach says they are very happy to add Loza Abera to their team. “We are pleased to add Loza to our ranks for the upcoming season. Along with being an outlet up top, Loza finds the back of the net on a consistent basis. She will be a welcomed addition to our team and will be an asset in the final third,” added the coach.

The Club President Jordan Stuart also praised Loza as an extremely talented player who adds creativity and a nose for goal on the attacking end of the field. “She has shown great leadership captaining her country and being at the forefront of African football on the world stage,” he added.

The 26-year old Loza was top scorer in 2021 and 2022 during the Zonal CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers in Nairobi and Tanzania respectively.

Top striker Demise Zenaf Senaf Wakuma has vowed to lead the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) WFC team to perform well when they make their debut in the continental CAF Women’s Champions League 2024 stage.

Last week Wakuma emerged top scorer with six goals as she helped CBE beat Kenya Police Bullets WFC in the final 1-0 to win the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2024 that concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“I am very happy that I emerged top scorer and helped my team win the Cup. We made history and now the focus will be to lead the team at the African Women’s Champions League stage,” Wakuma told Cecafa online.com

She explained that after previously reaching two finals of the Zonal qualifiers, they decided to keep working hard to try and win the trophy to qualify for the big stage. “Now we are champions and the focus will now have to be on performing well when we play against champions from other Zones,” she added.

CBE WFC will be the fourth team to represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions league big stage after Vihiga Queens in 2021, Simba Queens in 2022 and JKT Queens last year.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC are the champions of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifier 2024.

After losing at the final twice, coach Birhanu Gizaw Heye’s team this time made it count when they defeated Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in the final played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on Thursday.

The tournament’s top scorer Senaf Wakuma Zenaf Demise netted the lone goal after 79 minutes after her team had dominated play from kick-off. The Kenyan side who were making their debut in the tournament resorted to a defensive approach as the CBE team piled more and more pressure.

The pressure paid off for the home side with several passes exchanged before Zenaf Demise placed the ball past Kenya Police Bullets goalkeeper Annedy Kundu Kwamasi.

It was all celebrations after the final whistle as the home fans celebrated CBE’s win. In 2021 CBE lost in the final to Vihiga Queens of Kenya, and last year suffered another defeat to Tanzania’s JKT Queens in the final played in Uganda.

“I am very happy that finally we have lifted this trophy in-front of our fans in Addis Ababa. I thank the players and the management of the team for the hard work,” said a happy coach Heye after the match.

The goal scorer Zenaf Demise who finished with six goals said she was very happy that she scored many goals that helped her team win the Cup. “We are very happy and we shall celebrate this trophy for a long time,” added the striker.

In the earlier play-off match to determine which team finishes third Kawempe Muslim Ladies defeated 2022 champions Simba Queens (Tanzania) 2-0. Sumayah Nabuto and Agnes Nabukenya netted the goals.

The final was graced by Souleiman Hassan Waberi, the third Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), CAF Exco member and Ethiopia Football Federation President Isayas Jira, the CECAFA President and also President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Wallace Karia. The Burundi Football Federation president Alexandre Muyenge, Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) President Moses Hassim Magogo, Football Kenya Federation Vice President and CECAFA Exco member Doris Petra, and CAF head of Women’s Football, Meskerem Tadesse Goshime was also in attendance.

The tournament attracted eight teams from Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Djibouti, South Sudan, Kenya and Rwanda.

Awards

Fair-Play trophy – Simba Queens (Tanzania)

Best Coach – Beldine Odembe (Kenya Police Bullets, Kenya)

Best Goalkeeper – Annedy Kundu (Kenya Police Bullets, Kenya)

Top scorer – Demise Zenaf Senaf Wakuma (CBE, Ethiopia)

Best Player – Mesay Temesgen Tanga (CBE, Ethiopia)