Kenya’s Junior Starlets have secured the final available Round of 16 spot at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after beating Samoa 4-0 in their final Group E match in Morocco on Sunday, October 25.
The emphatic victory at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé saw head coach Mildred Cheche’s side qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams, marking the first time a Kenyan team has progressed beyond the group stage at a FIFA World Cup.
Mwanakombo Bakari scored twice, while Brenda Awuor and Gaudancia Maloba also found the net as Kenya delivered the convincing performance needed to keep their campaign alive.
Bakari opened the scoring in the fourth minute, giving the Junior Starlets an early advantage as they pursued the goal difference required to remain in contention for the knockout stage.
Samoa resisted further pressure for much of the first half before Awuor doubled Kenya’s lead in the 44th minute with a precise shot from outside the penalty area, sending the teams into the break with the East Africans leading 2-0.
Kenya continued their push after the restart, with Maloba extending the advantage in the 62nd minute before Bakari completed her brace two minutes later to put the Junior Starlets firmly in control.
The four-goal margin proved decisive in the race for the remaining knockout places. Kenya finished third in Group E with three points and a goal difference of minus four.
The result came after a difficult start to the tournament, with Kenya losing their opening match 3-0 to China before suffering a 6-1 defeat against the United States. Lindey Weey scored Kenya’s consolation goal against the Americans, leaving the team needing a significant response against Samoa.
Their qualification hopes also depended on results elsewhere in the competition, with the final group matches determining which third-placed teams would advance.
China subsequently defeated the United States 3-2 to finish top of Group E, while Kenya secured the final available place among the four best third-placed sides.
The expanded 24-team tournament format allows the top two teams from each of the six groups to qualify automatically for the Round of 16, alongside the four best third-placed teams.
Kenya’s achievement represents another milestone for Cheche, who guided the Junior Starlets to their maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup appearance in 2024 in the Dominican Republic. The team exited at the group stage during that debut campaign.
The Junior Starlets will now face Japan in the Round of 16 on Thursday, October 29, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm Kenyan time at the Mohammed VI Football Complex.
Japan advanced as Group D winners after recording three victories in three matches, scoring nine goals without conceding.
Kenya will head into the knockout encounter seeking to extend a historic campaign that has already delivered the country’s first-ever progression beyond the group stage at a FIFA World Cup.
