Kenya’s Junior Starlets will leave Nairobi on Saturday, October 3, for a two-week training camp in Spain as they step up preparations for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The tournament will run from October 17 to November 7, with Kenya drawn in Group E alongside the United States, China and Samoa.
The Junior Starlets will begin their campaign against China on October 19 before facing the USA three days later and completing their group matches against Samoa on October 25.
Head coach Mildred Cheche says the technical bench has already analysed Kenya’s opponents and will use the Spain camp to refine the team’s tactical approach ahead of the tournament.
The squad is expected to play Australia and Spanish clubs Real Betis and Cádiz during the camp, according to Cheche, giving the players a chance to face different levels of opposition before heading to Morocco.
“So we are looking to play against Australia in Spain and also a couple of clubs like Real Betis, Cádiz. Hopefully when we get to Spain, at this level, you have to do a lot of analysis on how your opponent is playing and you also need to adjust some of the strategies you have.”
The coach says the preparations are also aimed at getting the players accustomed to the demands of competing against established football nations.
Kenya earned its second successive qualification for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating South Africa 3-1 in the second leg of their final qualifying tie in July, completing a 5-1 aggregate victory.
The Junior Starlets made their tournament debut in 2024 and will return to the global stage with Cheche looking to use the remaining preparation period to strengthen the squad before the opening match.
The Spain camp will therefore provide the final extended period for tactical adjustments, match preparation and squad assessment before Kenya travels to Morocco for the competition.
