Former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi has highlighted how Junior Starlets can overcome Cameroon’s physical advantage in FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifiers.
Former Harambee Stars coach, Francis Kimanzi, has analyzed Cameroon’s key weaknesses and how Kenya’s Junior Starlets can exploit them ahead of their crucial FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in April.
The Junior Starlets, who recently cruised past Uganda with an emphatic 5-0 aggregate victory, are gearing up for another doubleheader against Cameroon. This fixture presents them with an opportunity to replicate their 2024 heroics and secure back-to-back World Cup qualifications.
The newly appointed Football Kenya Federation (FKF) director, speaking to TV 47 after Kenya’s dominant 3-0 second-leg win over Uganda at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, expressed optimism about the team’s performance so far.
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“The kids are playing well in these World Cup qualifiers, considering it is the knockout phase. They have won both legs and secured maximum points with five goals, which is a key factor heading into the Cameroon fixture,” Kimanzi stated.
Despite Kenya’s strong form, Kimanzi cautioned that Cameroon poses a significant challenge, having scored six goals and conceded just one in their previous round against Ethiopia.
“We keep preparing, considering Cameroon scored six goals and conceded one, while we scored six and conceded none. I think we already have a strong team, so we just have to believe we can secure World Cup qualification again,” he added.
Cameroon’s U-17 squad has demonstrated formidable strength, particularly in their physicality, a factor Kimanzi acknowledged as a challenge for the Junior Starlets.
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However, he pointed out Kenya’s key strengths that could be used to counter this disadvantage.
“We have to accept that physically, we cannot compete with Cameroon. Their U-17s at that age compared to us is not a fair comparison,” Kimanzi admitted.
“But football is not just about physicality. Our strength lies in our speed and technical ability. If we move faster and capitalize on their mistakes when we have the ball, we can beat them.”
Kimanzi also highlighted the experience within the Junior Starlets squad, which includes players who were part of last year’s team that successfully qualified for the World Cup.
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This experience, he believes, will be crucial in their upcoming encounters.
“They are a formidable team, but we can win because our squad includes youngsters from last year’s successful campaign. That experience gives us an advantage.”
The Junior Starlets will host Cameroon on April 17 before traveling for the return leg on April 25.
Kenya will be hoping to secure another historic qualification and continue their rise on the global stage.
