The Kenya U17 women’s team, Junior Starlets, has been nominated for the National Team of the Year gong at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) 2024 awards.
The nomination comes just days after the Junior Starlets made history by becoming the first Kenyan team to participate in a World Cup tournament when they took part in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2024 held in the Dominican Republic from 16 October to 3 November 2024.
Although they were eliminated in the group stage, the Kenyan team made an impact as the first Kenyan side to score and win a match at the World Cup.
They were placed in Group C alongside England, eventual champions North Korea and Mexico. The Junior Starlets lost their opening match 2-0 to England and then fell 3-0 to North Korea.
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However, they ended their World Cup campaign on a high note by defeating 2018 finalists Mexico 2-1.
The Mildred Cheche-led team will compete for the prestigious award against nine other African nations.
These include Cameroon U-20, who made their World Cup debut this year and reached the knockout stage before being eliminated by Brazil.
Malawi, who were semi-finalists at the COSAFA 2024 Women’s Cup and Morocco whose national team reached the round of 16 at the World Cup.
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Additionally, Morocco’s U20 team that clinched a bronze medal at the 2024 World Cup has also been nominated.
Other nominees include Nigeria’s U20 Falconets, who reached the round of 16 at the World Cup, and their U-17 Flamingos, who were unable to travel to the World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
South Africa, the COSAFA 2024 finalists, and their counterparts Zambia, who won the COSAFA 2024 title, are also in the running.
Junior Starlets’ nomination breaks Kenya’s drought of recognition at the prestigious awards, as the last time a Kenyan team was nominated was in 2018 when the Harambee Stars were considered.
Kenya U17 women’s team earn CAF 2024 nomination
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