Kenya are 90 minutes away from qualifying for the 2024 FIFA’s Women’s Under 17 World Cup.

The Junior Starlets beat Burundi 3-0 in the first leg of the last phase of the qualifiers in a match that took place on Sunday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Lorna Faith gave the Junior Starlets a 1-0 lead, before Marion Serenge and Susan Akoth added two second half goals.

Head coach Mildred Cheche says she was impressed with the attitude of the players against a strong Burundi team. ” The players have continued to work hard of and on the pitch and the results can show, ” said Cheche.

‘’We created a lot of chances offensively and we had even more that we should have scored going back to the second leg I think we have a lot to improve in terms of offensive actions,” added the coach.

She called upon fans to come in big numbers on June 16th at the Ulinzi Complex to support the starlets in the return leg because they are 90 minutes away from making history.

The 2024 FIFA Women’s Under 17 World Cup which will attract 16 qualified teams including three from Africa is slated to take place October 16th to November 3rd in the Dominican Republic.

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.

Ethiopia have advanced to the third round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 qualifiers.

After winning the first leg in the second round 3-0 against South Africa, the Ethiopian team held on to a goalless draw in the return leg played in Pretoria yesterday.

Ethiopia who qualified on a 3-0 goal aggregate will now face Kenya who earned a bye to the third round after DR Congo withdrew.

In another second round match played on Sunday, Tanzania’s Serengeti Girls defeated Zambia 1-0 in a match played at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam. Melkia William netted the lone goal, but Tanzania bowed out of the qualifiers on a 1-5 goal aggregate.

Zambia will now face Uganda in the third round after the Teen Cranes ejected Cameroon 4-2 on aggregate on Friday.

The other third round matches will see Djibouti face Burundi, while Morocco battle Algeria. Senegal will also face Liberia, while Burkina Faso take on Nigeria i the other matches.

The best three teams that win after the fourth round will qualify to represent Africa at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to take place in the Dominican Republic.