Kenya’s Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche says the team will draw valuable lessons from their friendly against Ghana as they fine-tune preparations for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco from October 17 to November 7.
Cheche said the match was a more competitive test than the team’s earlier friendly and helped identify areas to improve before their opening Group E fixture against China.
The preparation matches are giving the squad an opportunity to test its readiness against different opposition and address weaknesses before the tournament begins.
“The girls did well. The first friendly match wasn’t too competitive but today’s friendly against Ghana was very competitive. We saw the areas we need to improve, so hopefully they fare well in our first match against China,” Cheche said.
Kenya are preparing for their second appearance at the tournament, having made their debut in 2024 in the Dominican Republic.
The Junior Starlets recorded Kenya’s first win at a FIFA World Cup, beating Mexico 2–1, but did not progress beyond the group stage.
That experience provides a foundation for the team’s latest campaign. Kenya qualified for Morocco 2026 by defeating South Africa in the final round of African qualifying.
The squad will now aim to translate the progress made in qualifying and their friendly matches into results on the world stage.
Cheche said the players must approach the tournament with greater belief and a focus on winning, rather than simply taking part.
“The mindset is not just to participate, it’s to compete. In 2024, we participated but in 2026, we need to compete. It’s our second time, so the players need a different mindset and mentality: to win matches, not just participate.”
Kenya are in Group E with China, the United States and Samoa. They open against China on Monday, October 19, face the United States on October 22, and finish the group stage against Samoa on October 25.
A strong start will be important as the team pursues its goal of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
Midfielder Mwanakombo Bakari is expected to boost the squad ahead of the opener after joining SPIRE Academy in the United States.
