Harambee Starlets name provisional squad for U20 World Cup qualifiers

3rd November 2023 - by Stephen Ochieng

The Beldine Odemba-coached side will Cameroon in a two-legged tie

Rising Starlets. PHOTO| FKF
SUMMARY
  • 35 players have been called up and will join the camp on Friday 3 November.
  • The team will play Cameroon in a two-legged fixture with the winner advancing to the fourth and final round of qualification.
  • If Starlets make and win the fourth round, they will gain automatic qualification to the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup to be held in Colombia.

Beldine Odemba, the Kenya U20 Women’s National team head coach, has named the provisional squad that will represent the country against Cameroon in the penultimate round of the 2024 African U-20 Women's World Cup qualifiers scheduled to take place over two legs this November.

The Rising Starlets, who are fresh from their stunning 10-1 aggregate victory over Angola in the second round, will face the Cameroonians with the first leg kicking off away in Yaounde on Saturday 11 November 2023 and the return match being played at home on Friday 17 November 2023.

35 players have been called up and will join the camp on Friday 3 November and will embark on their journey to Cameroon on 9 November ahead of their first-leg clash at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on Saturday.

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Speaking ahead of the assignments, Odemba revealed that upto eight players will miss the third round games including captain Jane Hato who have national exams to deal with.

“We will miss 8 players in this round as they will sit for their KCSE exams, including our Captain Jane Hato. While their absence does pose a challenge, it is an opportunity for eight new talents to shine.

This new blood will hopefully integrate seamlessly with the team, and we will have a fresh face stepping into the captain’s role.

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We will work hard to overcome this hurdle in the upcoming round and hopefully, in the next round, we will emerge with a stronger, more resilient team,” said Odemba.

The winner of the tie will face the winner of the game pitting Congo against Egypt in the fourth and final round of qualification.

If the Rising Starlets win that round, they will then gain automatic qualification to the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup to be held in Colombia from 31 August to 22 September 2024.

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Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Scovia Awuor (Kobala Secondary), Christine Omolo (Butere Girls), Velma Abwire (Wiyeta Sec. School)

Defenders

Rebecca Kwoba (Zetech Sparks), Rachel Adhiambo (Acakoro), Dorcas Glender (Butere Sec.), Judith Nandwa (Butere Sec.), Ruth Akinyi (Nasokol Sec. Sch.) Charity Luhavi (Wiyeta Sec.), Ann Brenda Ochieng ( Macmillan Queens), Christine Imbenzi (Soccer Assassins), Christine Achieng (Jera Sec. Sch), Tabitha Amoit (Wadadia FC), Lavender Waswa (Bungoma Queens), Redempter Mercy (Kobala Sec.), Wendy Awino (Kobala Sec.)

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Midfielders

Clotilda Auma (Butere Girls), Elizabeth Muteshi (Nakuru City Queens), Hellen Mito (Soccer Assassins), Mary Akeyo (Lwak Girls High School), Vanesa Wangari (Gaspo Women), Sunira Manda Were (Moi Girls High School Eldoret), Eunice Nabwoba (Wiyeta Secondary School), Juliet Kimberly Diego (St. Christopher’s International School)

Forwards

Valerie Leah Nekesa (Soccer Assassins), Charity Midewa (Soccer Assassins), Anna Nabwire Arusi (Zetech Sparks), Elizabeth Mideva (Arch Bishop Njenga), Mollvine Achieng (KISPED), Lilian Mutanu (Gaspo Women), Sharlyne Opisa (Amus College), Fasila Odhiambo (Ulinzi Starlets), Emily Okute (Gaspo Women), Siplenda Mmboga (Kobala Secondary)

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