Hosts Kenya have suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the first leg of the final round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers played on Sunday.

The Kenya Junior Starlets kicked off the match on a high with Brenda Achieng missing the target after only 10 minutes at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

Against the run of play Cameroon took the lead through Tiwa Melong who placed the ball past Kenya’s goalkeeper Velma Abwire. After a few minutes the hosts created another opportunity, but Joan Ogola’s strike flew over the bar.

After recess, the Junior Starlets attacked on numbers and created many more scoring opportunities through Ogola, and substitutes Mitshell Waithera and Patience Asiko. Cameroon’s goalkeeper Jessica Mabou also made several important saves.

Mildred Cheche, the Kenya Junior Starlets coach said that although the team had played well, they failed to take the scoring chances. “We did all we could but Cameroon defended well to deny us a goal, they scored and resorted to play defensively,” said Chechje who added that have another 90 minutes to play for in the return leg.

Cameroon will host Kenya in the return leg on April 25th, at the Stade Olembe in Yaounde.  The aggregate winner will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025 to take place in Morocco.

Kenya’s U-17 women’s team picked a 1-1 draw against hosts Morocco in an international friendly match played at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat on Friday.

Defender Elizabeth Ochaka gave the Junior Starlets the lead after 60 minutes, but the hosts leveled matters through Mayssa Baha 13 minutes later.

The two teams will again face-off in the second friendly match on April 7^th at the same Stadium.

Coach Mildred Cheche are using the friendly matches ahead of a crucial third round qualifier of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup where they face Cameroon.

The Junior Starlets ejected Uganda 5-0 on aggregate in the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Kenya is seeking to book a place in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the second consecutive time.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s senior women’s team suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Ivory Coast in an International friendly match also played on Friday.

Tanzania’s Serengeti Girls (U-17) have kick started their UEFA U-18 Friendship Cup 2025 campaign on a winning note with a 1-0 victory against Lebanon on Monday.

Winifrida Gerald netted the lone goal after 87 minutes to hand the Serengeti Girls a Group B win in a match played at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) training centre in Riva near Istanbul.

The UEFA U-18 Friendship Cup 2025 which has attracted teams from different confederations kicked off today and will climax on April 10^th, 2025.

The UEFA Friendship Cup is a new initiative aimed at creating opportunities for talented young players to gain additional experience playing international football against teams from different confederations.

UEFA seeks to offer a platform for players to experience different playing styles and cultures, be able to exchange knowledge and learn from each other and have new networks from across the globe.

Group A has Zambia, Turkey, Colombia and Thailand, while Group B has Tanzania, Finland, Lebanon and Jamaica.

The Kenya Junior Starlets have ejected Uganda and will now face Cameroon in the third and final round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025 qualifiers are

Kenya Junior Starlets eliminated Uganda 5-0 on goal aggregate to book a place in the next round

After winning the first leg 2-0, the Kenyan team humbled Uganda Teen Cranes 3-0 in the return leg played at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday.

Patience Asiko netted an early goal after 5 minutes, and Brenda Achieng recorded a second half brace to guide Kenya Junior Starlets to the next round.

Kenya will now face Cameroon who ejected Ethiopia 6-2 on aggregate. Kenya are chasing a second appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after featuring in last year in Dominican Republic.

On Saturday Tanzania suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to bow out on a 4-0 goal aggregate.

Burundi were also eliminated by Ivory Coast by after losing the return le 3-0 to bow out on a 4-3 goal aggregate.

Four teams will qualify from Africa alongside hosts Morocco will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.