As Kenya’s Junior Starlets kicked off their Group “E” campaign at the 2026 Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, another crucial assignment began back home, affecting nine squad members.
On Monday, the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations began and will run until November 20. Five Junior Starlets players are KCSE candidates.
The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for Grade Nine learners is scheduled to start on Monday. Three Kenya players are in Grade Nine.
The World Cup will end on November 7. It is highly unlikely the Junior Starlets will reach the final.
They were beaten 3-0 by China in their opening match and lost to giants USA in their second match on Thursday. They will finish their group assignments against Samoa on Sunday.
The team is not expected to get out of the group phase, but the exam candidates will barely get time to link back with their schoolmates in Kenya to sit their respective examinations.
Junior Starlets players celebrate after scoring against South Africa to qualify for the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on July 12, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
The KCSE candidates are defender Idah Matara and midfielder Beryl Okumu of Nyakach Girls High School (Kisumu County), defender Daisy Adonjo of Katonje Mixed Secondary School (Homa Bay), and midfielder Noelina Akuku and forward Faith Boke of Butere Girls High School (Kakamega).
The KJSEA candidates are defender Brenda Awuor of Madira Girls Primary School, forward Brendah Acheing’ of Kakamega Hill Primary and Junior School, and forward Elizabeth Alizeba of Oding’ Primary School.
This is not the first time members of the team have faced this dilemma of playing in the World Cup while national examinations loom.
During Kenya’s maiden appearance at the 2024 World Cup in the Dominican Republic, eight Form Four players were affected.
Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) made special arrangements with centre managers to allow the students sit their exams after the World Cup.
In the end, the team was eliminated early, and the girls rejoined their schoolmates for the exams under the normal schedule
However, concerns were later raised about their academic performance.
Sharon Vulimu, principal of Madira Girls High School, said some of the 2024 candidates from her school struggled in the exams. Madira had four players in that squad.
“Hopefully, there will be special examinations this year to give the candidates time to settle down before sitting their papers. Most of the students did not do well in the 2024 KCSE,” Vulimu said.
Nation Sports attempted to find out if special arrangements had been made for the girls to sit their papers.
FKF acting secretary-general Dennis Gicheru said the federation had engaged the Ministry of Education on the matter.
“There are talks with the Ministry of Education to have them sit special examinations. We are still waiting for their feedback,” Gicheru said before the team departed for Morocco.
Nyakach Girls principal Peninah Omollo could only say she hoped arrangements had been made, while Butere Girls games teacher Howard Shikanga said the school had not received official communication from the Ministry of Education or Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Kenya Harambee junior Starlets players before facing Namibia during Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) African qualifiers Fifa under-17 Women World Cup match played on 18th April 2026 at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
“The principal explained to the parents the importance of the examinations, but they came to school and took the students away. They could have just sat their examinations and played next year. That is the end of their time here because this is the last lot that will sit for KCSE,” Shikanga said.
He added: “The Ministry and FKF should come up with a national team U-17 calendar that does not interfere with the KSSSA calendar. The issue of national exams should also be considered by FKF. The future of these players should also be considered. How will these players get scholarships in our universities and abroad without national exam certificates? Remember the lifespan of a girl child in football is short. When her talent ends, her education should come in to support.”
Shikanga called on Knec to allow the affected learners to sit papers they will miss, including French, German, Music, Home Science and Computer Studies, which have already started.
“My view is that candidates should be exempted from the national team, especially when the assignment comes during the exam period,” he said.
