Cheche chases redemption in U17 World Cup second leg qualifier in Cameroon

Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche has promised a spirited comeback in the return leg of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against hosts Cameroon, vowing that it will not be business as usual in Yaoundé.

This comes after Kenya suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Baby Lionesses in the first leg of the qualifiers staged at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday. Despite the setback, Cheche has struck a confident tone, rallying her players ahead of the must-win clash away from home.

“Playing away will be a very tough match, but we have everything to play for. They have everything to lose and for us we are going all out. So, our players are tougher mentally, you could see in the second half how they performed. So, it is not going to be easy for Cameroon. They should expect a very tough team,” Cheche stated in a post-match press conference.

When pressed on how they plan to approach the away fixture, Cheche reiterated her firm belief in her squad’s capabilities and hinted at a more aggressive game plan.

“The first thing (is) we have to ensure that they don't dominate. We make sure that we dominate the same way we’ve done in the second half. So, even if they are at home, for us we will ensure they don't play at all,” she said.

The Junior Starlets will now need to win by a margin of at least two goals on Friday, April 25, in Cameroon to book a place in the World Cup for a second consecutive appearance.

Among the positives Cheche highlighted was the team's resurgence in the second half and the number of scoring chances they created, signaling her optimism that the Starlets can overturn the result.

The loss marked Kenya’s first defeat to an African opponent in nine matches, breaking a strong unbeaten run that had seen them knock out Uganda 5-0 on aggregate in the second round.

Sunday’s game also marked the first-ever meeting between Kenya and Cameroon at the U17 level, adding further weight to the return leg, which promises to be a battle of grit and tactical wits.

With the clock ticking toward the decisive showdown, all eyes now turn to Yaoundé where Cheche’s resolute charges will aim to pull off a historic comeback and keep Kenya’s World Cup dreams alive.