Namibia’s U/17 women’s team, the Baby Gladiators, will host Kenya’s Junior Starlets this Sunday, 12 April 2026, in the first leg of their CAF FIFA U/17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The match will take place at the Unam Stadium in Windhoek at 15h00, with the return leg scheduled for 18 April in Nairobi, Kenya.
Head coach Woody Jacobs says preparations have gone well, despite recent rainfall slightly disrupting training sessions.
“We have been blessed with a lot of rain, but we managed to do what we needed to do. In my view, we are very well prepared going into the match. We have no major injuries and have been focusing on recovery to keep the girls healthy and ready,” said Jacobs.
He acknowledged that Namibia enters the tie as underdogs, noting Kenya’s previous FIFA World Cup experience, but remains confident in his squad.
“We are from the Land of the Brave. We have players with national team experience, and we are banking on that. It’s a good mix of experienced and young players,” he added.
The squad includes players who have represented Namibia at U/15, U/17, U/20 and senior levels, with participation in the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games.
Jacobs believes the team has grown significantly over the years and can rise to the challenge.
As they head into the match, he emphasised the importance of minimising mistakes and capitalising on scoring opportunities.
“We are playing at home for the first time in a long time and in front of our supporters. We hope the weather allows for a good game, and we call on the nation to come out in numbers and support the girls,” he said.
The team’s training camp officially began on 3 April 2026, although most players have remained active with their clubs and respective leagues.