Rising Starlets edge out Tanzania to keep World Cup dream alive
The win gives Kenya an upper hand ahead of the return leg clash away in Dar es Salaam. Â ..
✨ Key Highlights
The Rising Starlets of Kenya secured a vital 1-0 victory against the Tanzanite Queens of Tanzania in the first leg of their 2026 Fifa U20 Women's World Cup qualifier. This narrow win keeps their World Cup aspirations alive ahead of the return match in Dar es Salaam.
- Striker Elizabeth Mideva scored the decisive goal for Kenya in the final moments of the tightly contested match at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
- Rising Starlets head coach Jackline Juma expressed satisfaction with the win but acknowledged the need to improve their offensive strategy.
- Tanzanian coach Bakari Shime criticized the quality of the pitch, alleging it was intentionally chosen to impede his team's performance, but vowed to equalize and win the return leg.
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Kenyan Football Events: FKF Cup Begins and Rising Starlets Beat Tanzania in World Cup Qualifier - February 2026
The 2026 FKF Cup, Kenya's oldest domestic knockout competition, has commenced with 32 matches in the Round of 64 across the country. Teams are vying for increased prize money and a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup. In international qualifiers, the Kenya Rising Starlets U20 team faced Tanzania's Tanzanite Queens at Ulinzi Sports Complex in the first leg of their 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier. Coach Jackline Juma had expressed confidence in her team's ability to secure a home victory. The Rising Starlets did secure a vital 1-0 victory, keeping their World Cup aspirations alive. Concurrently, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) appointed Dennis Gicheru as its Acting General Secretary/CEO, replacing the embattled Harold Ndege, who has vowed to challenge his ouster in court.
