NAIROBI – Kenya’s Under 20 women national team – Harambee Junior Starlets – are out to step up their game when they take on the might of Ghana in the second round of the 2018 FIFA Under 20 Women World Cup.
Kenya qualified to face Ghana who have made five successive appearances at the global showpiece when they edged Ethiopia 4-3 on aggregate in the first round after winning the home return leg 2-1 in Machakos.
“We know the competition gets tougher in the second round. It will not be like Botswana before or even Ethiopia but we have to keep our eyes on the ball,” Junior Starlets striker, Gentrix Shingawa, who notched the match winner said.
“It is such a great honor scoring in front of our fans. The target remains to reach next year’s World Cup,” said Shingawa who celebrated her first international goal.
The forward noted they were inspired by the senior Harambee Starlets side who qualified for a maiden appearance at the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
“The senior team set the precedent and it is down to us to reach new heights,” Shikangwa stressed.
Junior Starlets have it all to do against a rampant Black Princesses of Ghana who whitewashed Algeria 10-0 on aggregate in the first-round tie.
The winner between Kenya and Ghana will face the victor of the second-round clash between Sierra Leone and Cameroon in the final qualifier.
The first leg of the Junior Starlets tie will be played on the weekend of Nov. 3 to 5 with the return due a fortnight later. Enditem
