The Kenya U20 women’s national team, Rising Starlets, are through to the third round of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers after sealing a convincing 5-1 aggregate victory over Ethiopia.
Starlets wrapped up the second-round tie with a commanding 4-0 win at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Sunday, September 28, 2025. Valerie Nekesa opened the scoring as early as the 4th minute, before Elizabeth Mideva doubled the lead in the 16th. Fasila struck in the 28th minute to make it three, and Mideva returned in the second half to complete her brace in the 67th minute.
In the first leg, played a week earlier on September 21, 2025, at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, it was also Mideva who found the net to secure a vital 1-1 away draw. She now stands as Kenya’s top scorer in the qualifiers with three goals to her name.
The victory sets up an East African derby in the third round, with Kenya facing Tanzania. Starlets will host the first leg before traveling away for the return fixture, with both matches scheduled for February 2026.
The Rising Starlets will now shift their focus to preparations for this crucial clash as they continue their pursuit of a historic ticket to the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.
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