Junior Starlets, coach Cheche, and Nekesa nominated for prestigious CAF Awards

Junior Starlets striker Valerie Nekesa (left) in action duirng a past training session. [Harambee Starlets,X]

Kenya’s Junior Starlets, along with striker Valarie Nekesa and head coach Mildred Cheche, have been nominated for the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, a historic recognition of their stellar year in football.

Seventeen-year-old Nekesa, who made headlines by scoring Kenya’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup, is among the 10 nominees for the Women’s Young Player of the Year award.

The prolific striker was instrumental in Kenya’s first-ever qualification for a FIFA World Cup, securing the decisive goal in a 2-0 victory over Burundi during the qualifiers in June.

Her milestone World Cup goal came in Kenya's 2-1 win over Mexico at the U-17 tournament held in the Dominican Republic.

Coach Mildred Cheche, who guided the Junior Starlets to their maiden FIFA World Cup appearance, has been nominated for Women’s Football Coach of the Year.

The Junior Starlets themselves have been shortlisted for Women’s National Team of the Year, recognizing their groundbreaking journey to the global stage.

Kenya’s U-17 team was one of only three African sides to feature at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, alongside Zambia and Nigeria. Their nominations highlight their remarkable rise in African football.

Nekesa faces stiff competition in her category, with nominees from Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. Similarly, the Junior Starlets are up against strong contenders, including Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco, in the Women’s National Team category.

The CAF Awards will celebrate excellence between January and October 2024 and are set to take place on December 16 in Marrakesh, Morocco.

This moment marks a significant milestone for Kenyan football as the nation takes its place on Africa’s biggest stage.

Young Player of the Year

1. Cathy Biya (Cameroon / Eclair)
2. Naomi Eto (Cameroon / Amazone FAP)
3. Habiba Sabry (Egypt /FC Masar)
4. Stella Nyamekye (Ghana / Dreamz Ladies)
5. Valerie Nekesa (Kenya / Madira Girls)
6. Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)
7. Lina Mokhtar Jamai (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
8. Chiamaka Okuchukwu (Nigeria / Rivers Angels)
9. Flourish Sabastine (Nigeria / Stade de Reims) 
10. Nthabiseng Majiya (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)