Kenya Women's Under 17 miss out on World Cup slot after defeat to Cameroon

Having lost their first leg clash 1-0 to Cameroon last week in Nairobi, it was always going to be a tough ask for Kenya's Junior Starlets to turn around a deficit away from home and qualify for the FIFA Under 17 World Cup and so it proved as they lost 3-1 on the night to crash out of the showpiece event.

Played at the Stade Olembe in Yaoundé, Cameroon, last night, the Kenyans already knew they would need to be on top of their game to qualify, but that did not happen as the Cameroonians instead took a sixth-minute lead through Beatrice Avana to make it 2-0 on aggregate.

It was poor defending that allowed the scoring opportunity, to the anguish of Kenya's coach Mildred Cheche.

The first half flew past without further incident as the home side sensed frailties amongst the Kenyan ranks to add more to their tally.

Early in the second half, the visitors made a breakthrough in the goal scoring chart thanks to skipper Elizabeth Ochaka, who fired home from the penalty spot after Cameroon's Wendji Yvana was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area on 52 minutes.

Some hope for Kenya, it seemed.

Almost to their surprise, Cameroon equalised just a minute later after a horrible lapse in concentration by the Kenyan back four allowed Tazanou Ange to hand the home side the advantage once again with a simple finish from close range.

Cheche looked on in disbelief on the sidelines.

At this point, the Kenyans looked deflated and so it was confirmed, as Tiwa Lys Fraiche completed the emphatic aggregate win for the home side from the penalty spot after Kenya's Lorraine Livanga had fouled her.

She picked herself up and fired home to book Cameroon's slot at the World Cup in Morocco later this year.

The Women's Under-17 World Cup will take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 8.

Kenya had been looking to make a second consecutive appearance at the tournament after also featuring in 2024 in the Dominican Republic.