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Junior Starlets player Valarie Nekesa, who scored Kenya’s first-ever World Cup goal during the FIFA U17 tournament, feels it will act as a major motivation for future success.
Valarie Nekesa etched her name in history when she scored Kenya’s first-ever goal at a World Cup following Junior Starlets’ 2-1 victory against Mexico on Thursday.
Kenya exited the Women’s U17 World Cup at the group stage but left with their heads held high after making history by appearing at the global tournament and also winning a match.
Also writing a new chapter at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was Nekesa, who scored a 15th minute opener for Kenya, a first World Cup goal for the country, with Lorna Faith Wasike adding a second one in the 36th minute before Mexico scored a consolation in time added on.
It is a result that saw Mildred Cheche’s team finish third in Group C on three points behind North Korea and England, who had nine and six points respectively, and for Nekesa, it is the stuff of dreams.
![[WATCH] Junior Starlets hilariously dance to 'Anguka nayo' hit song in historic Mexico win](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/25102024/36a2e5a2-5f4b-444d-a4ea-f55169ab3df2.jpg?operations=fit(:350))
08:30 - 25.10.2024
[WATCH] Junior Starlets hilariously dance to 'Anguka nayo' hit song in historic Mexico win
Junior Starlets bowed out of the U-17 Women's World Cup in style by beating Mexico 1-0, with the players then celebrating by dancing to the popular hit song 'Anguka nayo'
"I'm truly overwhelmed. I feel over the moon. It's such a great feeling, but first I have to thank God for it," she told the media.
"I'm more than happy to have scored that goal. First, we badly needed to find the back of the net, then we did. Secondly, we badly needed the points, then we got the three of them. Lastly, we badly needed a respectable ranking, then we ranked third in the pool, we left the tournament with heads held high.”
Nekesa paid glowing tribute to team-mate Joan Ogola, who chose to tee her up to score when she would have finished it off herself, and feels the experience will act as a catalyst for her and the rest of the team in future tournaments.
"I'm now inspired to work even harder. I'm now motivated to score even more goals that will take Kenya to other global competitions like these," she added.
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06:28 - 24.10.2024
Junior Starlets make history with victory over Mexico at Women's U17 World Cup
Kenya's Junior Starlets exited the Women's U17 World Cup in historic fashion after securing their first win following a 2-1 victory against Mexico.
"It was our unity, our purpose on the pitch that lessened the burden on the field, so we were able to score.”
Nekesa feels Kenya’s 2-0 loss to England in their tournament opener and the 3-0 defeat at the hands of North Korea were a result of lack of confidence from them but summoned enough courage to ensure they went home with pride.
"In our first two games of the tournament, we were so much engulfed in fear and this took out our potential to score. It was fear that resulted in our defeats,” said Nekesa.
"But against Mexico, we said kaende kaende (tackle it as it comes), we put fear aside and activated our free mode, we played it according to how creative we could be and we are happy with the results.
"We stretched, gave our best, kept the possession to our favour so we had undue advantage over our opponents, resulting in the victory."
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