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Kenya U-17 girls to sharpen attack for Cameroon fixture
Kenya's Joyangela Valencia (left) tussles for the ball Nde Yvana Wendji of Cameroon during their Fifa Under 17 World Cup qualifying match at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on April 20, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Kenya dominated the entire match, but were undone by striker Tiwa Milong’s goal in the 13th minute from a corner kick.
- Junior Starlets dominated the second half with the introduction of Mitshel Waithera for Valencia in attack, but couldn’t score.
Stung by numerous missed chances in their 1-0 loss to Cameroon on Sunday in the 2025 Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, Kenya’s coach Mildred Cheche is out to sharpen the team’s striking force ahead of Friday’s return leg fixture at Olembe Stadium in Yaounde.
The return leg match will be played from 7pm (Kenyan time), with the aggregate winner qualifying for 2025 Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup that will be played in Cameroon from October 16 to November 3.
“My players have never been in a situation where we are behind,” Cheche explained.
“Some of them were in shock and clearly under pressure from conceding an early goal. We will ensure Cameroon don’t dominate us... we need to capitalise on our strengths and score early goals to take control of the match,” she said after the match.
Kenya dominated the entire match, but were undone by striker Tiwa Milong’s goal in the 13th minute from a corner kick at Nyayo National Stadium.
Against Cameroon, Cheche made three changes to her starting team from the one that beat Uganda 5-0 last month in the second round.
Midfielders Bakari Mwanakombo, Joy Angela Valencia, and Brenda Achieng replaced Lindey Weey Atieno, Patience Asiko, and Brenda Awuor, respectively.
Velma Abwire was in goal, and the defence had former captain Elizabeth Ochaka, Lorine Ilavonga, Judith Nandwa, and Jenivive Mithel, who stood out throughout the match.
Captain Halima Imbachi, Valencia, Mwanakombo, and Achieng were in midfield, with Joan Ogola and Edinah Nasipwondi taking charge of the attack.
But Kenya struggled in attack, and often failed to convert their chances into goals. They hit the goalpost twice and had one-on-one chances with the Cameroonian goalkeeper three times.
Cheche brought in Atieno to replace Achieng in the 32nd minute of the match as she sought to inject more creativity in the midfield. Cameroon employed long passes and cashed in on height advantage to dominate aerial duels.
“Achieng had a better chance of scoring, but because of her height, she couldn’t get to most of the balls, and we had to get a midfielder. We brought Lindey Weey Atieno to play alongside our wingers so that she could be in a position to utilize the spaces between,” Cheche said.
Junior Starlets dominated the second half with the introduction of Mitshel Waithera for Valencia in attack, but couldn’t score.
Regarding time-wasting strategies that Cameroon employed, Cheche said: “We must dominate the entire match as we did in the second half and prevent them from playing at home. We will be careful not to make unnecessary fouls, as they (Cameroon) will go down easily. We need to utilise scoring opportunities, as they likely won’t waste time again.”