Kenya will face Japan in the knock out Group of 16 at the on-going 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on October 29th in Morocco.
The Kenya Junior Starlets wrote history on Sunday beating Samoa 4-0 in their last Group E match to qualify for the Group of 16.
Mwanakombo Bakari netted a brace, while Brenda Awuor and Gaudancia Maloba also got their names on the score sheet in the match played at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale.
The victory secured Kenya’s place in the knockout stages as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Kenya had lost it’s opening match 3-0 to China, and 6-1 to USA, with Lindey Atieno netting the lone goal.
Ghana, Nigeria and hosts Morocco are the only other African teams that have also qualified for the knock out Group of 16.
The defending champions North Korea will face Morocco, while Ghana take on Argentina, and Nigeria battle Mexico in the other Group of 16 matches involving African teams.
The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is the tenth edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and will climax on November 7th, 2026.