Kenya's Junior Starlets eliminated from U-17 Women's World Cup

Kenya’s Harambee Junior Starlets were eliminated from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Monday morning after a 3-0 loss to North Korea at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

The defeat, their second in as many matches, dashed their hopes of progressing beyond the group stage.

North Korea, a two-time World Cup champion, dominated the game from the outset. So Ryu-gyong struck twice in quick succession, with goals in the 8th and 11th minutes, both assisted by Ho Kyong in near-identical fashion. Kuk Hyang sealed the win with a powerful header off a corner just four minutes before the final whistle.

FT

?? 3-0 ??#JuniorStarlets #GoJuniorStarlets pic.twitter.com/ujO9atzAjT — Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) October 20, 2024

The loss came on the heels of a 2-0 defeat to England in their opening match, placing the Junior Starlets in a precarious position in Group C. Their only chance to advance hinged on a Mexico win over England, but a ten-women England side overcame Mexico 4-2 to secure their spot in the quarterfinals alongside North Korea.

Kenya's head coach, Mildred Cheche, made one change from the England match, starting Velma Awuor in place of Lindey Atieno. Despite the switch, the Starlets struggled to create scoring opportunities, failing to register a single shot on target in a one-sided affair.

Although the Junior Starlets’ World Cup journey ended early, their participation marked a significant milestone as they became the first Kenyan football team to qualify for a World Cup at any level. This achievement reflects the growing development of women’s football in Kenya and serves as a foundation for future success.

The team will face Mexico in their final group match on Thursday, October 24, with both teams already eliminated from the tournament.