Kenya’s Junior Starlets have booked a place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after producing a commanding 4-0 victory over Samoa in their final Group E match in Morocco on Sunday.

The emphatic win marked a historic achievement for the Kenyan team, who have progressed beyond the group stage for the first time in their two appearances at the global tournament.

Mildred Cheche’s charges went into the encounter needing a strong response after losing their opening matches against China and the United States. They fell 3-0 to China before suffering a 6-1 defeat to the USA, with Lindey Weey Atieno scoring Kenya’s first goal of the tournament in the latter match.

Against Samoa, the Junior Starlets delivered the attacking performance they had been searching for, scoring four times while keeping a clean sheet to finish their group campaign on a high.

Mwanakombo Bakari opened the scoring in the fourth minute, giving Kenya an early advantage and easing the pressure on a side that had struggled to convert chances in its first two outings.

Brenda Awuor doubled the lead in the 44th minute, ensuring Kenya went into the half-time break with a comfortable two-goal cushion.

The Kenyan side maintained its intensity after the restart, with Gaudencia Maloba extending the advantage in the 62nd minute. Bakari struck again two minutes later to complete her brace and put the result beyond doubt.

The four-goal margin proved crucial to Kenya’s hopes of advancing from Group E. With the top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed sides progressing to the knockout stage, the Junior Starlets needed both a convincing result and a favourable overall position against teams in other groups.

Their victory ultimately secured a place in the last 16, transforming a campaign that had begun with two defeats into one of the most significant milestones in the history of Kenyan women’s football.

The achievement builds on the team’s breakthrough at the 2024 edition in the Dominican Republic. During their debut, Kenya lost their first two group matches before recording a 2-1 victory over Mexico in their final fixture. Although that win did not take them beyond the group stage, it established Kenya’s first victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

This time, the Junior Starlets have gone further. Their qualification for the knockout rounds gives the players another opportunity to measure themselves against the world’s leading youth teams and gain valuable experience on the international stage.

Kenya conceded nine goals against China and the USA, but finished their group campaign with a clean sheet and four goals of their own.

The Junior Starlets will now prepare for the Round of 16, where the challenge will become even tougher. Whatever follows, their progress beyond the group stage has already added a new chapter to Kenya’s growing presence in international women’s football.