Rising Starlets head coach Jackline Juma has praised her players’ fighting spirit after Kenya battled to a 1–1 draw against Ethiopia in the first leg of the second round of the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers on Sunday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium.

Kenya struck almost immediately when Elizabeth Mideva, the in-form Archbishop Njenga Girls High School forward, found the net just 37 seconds into the match. The hosts equalized in the 65th minute through Emush, ensuring the tie remains finely balanced ahead of the return leg.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Juma applauded her team’s effort but pointed out areas for improvement before the decisive second leg at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Sunday, September 28.

“The match was very entertaining but the rains made us not win it. We also lost numerous chances, especially in the first half. Going into Sunday’s match we must correct the mistakes. The strikers need to score early goals and maintain the tempo. We conceded because of a mistake on our end, but our players gave their best,” she said.

Despite the wet conditions and missed opportunities, Juma highlighted the importance of Mideva’s early strike.

“We thank God because we have an away goal, which is a plus for us. In the home game, we have to work on our defensive line because there were a lot of penetration passes,” she added.

Defender Halima Imbachi echoed her coach’s sentiments, confident the team will rise to the occasion in Nairobi.

“We began with high spirits and scoring early was a big advantage. Ethiopia had their fans and everything in their favour, but we are ready for the Sunday match. Playing at home, I’m sure our fans will motivate us a lot,” said Imbachi.

The aggregate winner between Kenya and Ethiopia will advance to face either Tanzania or Angola in the third round of qualifiers scheduled for February 2026.