Kenya’s football future takes center stage at the CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from January 7–18, 2025.
Among the standout fixtures is an all-Kenyan derby on January 13, 2025, at the Azam Complex featuring the Kenya Academy of Sports and Kenya Elite Junior Academy teams.
The Kenya Elite Junior Academy, were invited into the tournament following the withdrawal of Bahir Dar Kenema (Ethiopia). Both Kenyan teams are in Group A.
The tournament will serve as a vital platform for Kenya to identify and fine-tune the team that will represent the nation in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Kenya’s campaign kicks off in March 2025, facing either Namibia or Uganda in the second round.
Pioneering Coaches at the Helm
The Kenya Academy of Sports team will be led by Jacqueline Juma, a trailblazer in Kenyan football as one of the two CAF A-accredited female coaches in the country. Juma also made history as the first woman to coach an FKF Premier League team, FC Talanta. Her extensive experience and strategic acumen will be instrumental in shaping the team.
On the other side, the Kenya Elite Junior Academy will be guided by Mildred Cheche, the first Kenyan coach to lead a team to a FIFA World Cup. Cheche, a CAF B-certified coach, brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of nurturing young talent. Her success in qualifying the Junior Starlets for the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup adds a layer of anticipation to her team’s performance.
Building the Path to Glory
This tournament not only provides an opportunity for the players to gain international exposure but also serves as a foundation for Kenya’s long-term football aspirations.
The CAF GIFT tournament marks a crucial step in Kenya’s preparations for the World Cup qualifiers, with the players aiming to seize the moment and solidify their spots in the Junior Starlets team that will represent Kenya in the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Group Matches
- JKT Queens vs Kenya Academy of Sports | January 7, 2025 | 6 pm | Azam Complex
- Kenya Elite Junior Academy vs City Light FC | January 8, 2025 | 9 am | Azam Complex
- TDS Girls vs Boni Consilili Girls | January 8, 2025 | 3 pm | Azam Complex
- Aigle Noir vs Hilaad FC | January 8, 2025 | 6 pm | Azam Complex
- JKT Queens vs Kenya Elite Junior Academy | January 10, 2025 | 3 pm | Azam Complex
- City Lights FC vs Kenya Academy of Sports | January 10, 2025 | 6 pm | Azam Complex
- TDS Girls vs Aigle Noir | January 11, 2025 | 3 pm | Azam Complex
- Boni Consilili Girls vs Hilaad FC | January 11, 2025 | 6 pm | Azam Complex
- Kenya Elite Junior Academy vs Kenya Academy of Sports | January 13, 2025 | 3 pm | Azam Complex
- JKT Queens vs City Light | January 13, 2025 | 6 pm | Azam Complex
- Hilaad FC vs TDS Girls | January 14, 2025 | 3 pm | Azam Complex
- Boni Consilili Girls vs Aigle Noir | January 14, 2025 | 6 pm | Azam Complex
Also read: Junior Starlets Eye Second World Cup Qualification as Qualifiers Begin