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Kenya striker Ogola ready to finish the job against Uganda

Junior Starlets strikers Valarie Nekesa (left) and Joan Ogola participate in the national anthem ceremony before their Group 'C' match at Felix Olimpico Stadium in Santo Domingo on October 23, 2024, during the Under-17 Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic. 

Photo credit: Pool
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By  Toto Arege

Correspondent

NMG Sport

What you need to know:

  • Uganda qualified for the second round with a commanding 18-0 aggregate win over Namibia last month while Kenya received a bye into the round.
  • The aggregate winner will likely meet powerhouses Cameroon in the final round of qualifiers. The Central Africans crushed Ethiopia 5-0 in their first leg encounter last Saturday.

After providing an assist during Kenya’s Under-17 Women's World Cup 2-1 victory over Mexico last October in the Dominican Republic, striker Joan Ogola longed to score a goal of her own.

It duly came when Kenya crushed Uganda 2-0 in their 2025 World Cup qualifier second round first leg match in Kampala on Saturday.

The lanky Ogola latched onto a through ball at pace to powerfully fire home in the 36th minute for Kenya’s second goal.

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“The dream of scoring for the country has always been at the back of my mind. The assist in last year’s World Cup motivated me, so scoring against Uganda was a personal dream realised,” Ogola revealed on Wednesday during training at MPesa Foundation Grounds, Thika, Kiambu.

The Grade Nine student at St Maurice Mwira Girls in Matungu, Kakamega is hungry to add to her internationally tally and will certainly be one of the women to watch for in the return leg at refurbished Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

“We will show them that this is our ground, home turf, and we are going to make it pay,” added Ogola.

Defender Lorine Ilavonga revealed the laser focus Junior Starlets have in this qualifiers.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity and preparing for a second World Cup appearance. We know we have a tough, experienced opponent but our aim is to go back to the World Cup,” she said.

The match will kick off at 3pm.

Nyayo has been under renovation since 2023. The stadium last hosted an international match on November 19, 2023 when the Harambee Starlets played Botswana in a 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Advanced tickets for the match are available at tikiti.co.ke or through 51955# on mobile and are retailing at Sh500 for VIP and Sh100 for terraces.

Advance tickets will be on sale until tomorrow at 4pm. The match will be streamed live on Harambee Starlets Facebook page.

Uganda’s Teen Cranes, coached by South African Sheryl Botes, landed in Nairobi yesterday morning aboard a Ugandan Airlines flight.

Uganda qualified for the second round with a commanding 18-0 aggregate win over Namibia last month while Kenya received a bye into the round.

The aggregate winner will likely meet powerhouses Cameroon in the final round of qualifiers. The Central Africans crushed Ethiopia 5-0 in their first leg encounter last Saturday.