Kenya's Junior Starlets will step into unknown territory on Thursday night when they face Japan in the round of 16 of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, after Sunday's 4-0 win over Samoa made them the first Kenyan side to reach the knockout stage of a FIFA tournament.

The match is scheduled for 9pm East African Time on Thursday, 29 October, on Pitch 3 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, the same venue where coach Mildred Cheche's side sealed their passage on Sunday night, according to Mozzart Sport and Pulse Sports. The Confederation of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) has also confirmed the pairing.

A tall order against the Little Nadeshiko

Japan, nicknamed the Little Nadeshiko, are one of the most decorated nations in women's youth football. They won the U-17 Women's World Cup in 2014, finished runners-up in 2010 and 2016, and have lifted the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup four times. Pulse Sports reports that they topped Group D without losing a match or conceding a goal, a record that underlines the size of the task facing the Kenyans.

Kenya, by contrast, took the long road. They opened Group E with a 3-0 defeat to China and were then beaten 6-1 by the United States, results that left them needing a heavy win in the final round and favourable outcomes elsewhere. They delivered against Samoa, and the win was enough to make them one of the four best third-placed teams, alongside Poland, hosts Morocco and Venezuela.

How the Samoa win was built

Forward Mwanakombo Bakari set the tone with an early opener and later added her second of the night, and was named player of the match. Brenda Awuor scored just before half-time, and Gaudancia Maloba added the third in the second half before Bakari's second completed the scoring. The margin could have been bigger: Pulse Sports reports that Lindey Weey missed a late penalty.

Speaking after the match, Bakari told Mozzart Sport the squad had been driven by unity and hard work. "We fought as a team, we maintained team spirit, we worked hard," she said, adding that the journey had "not been an easy journey". On Japan, she struck a defiant note: "Whichever team we get matched up against, we will fight because it won't be easy."

What Cheche must fix

The defeats to China and the USA exposed Kenya's defence, which conceded nine goals in two games before the clean sheet against Samoa. Against a Japanese side known for patient possession and quick combinations in tight areas, Cheche's players will need to stay compact and make the most of the few counter-attacking chances that are likely to come their way. Bakari's pace and finishing are expected to be Kenya's main outlet.

The Junior Starlets are already guaranteed their best finish at the tournament. They made their debut at the 2024 edition in the Dominican Republic but did not get past the group stage. Reaching the quarter-finals would add another chapter to a campaign that has already lifted the profile of the women's game in Kenya, which the Football Kenya Federation has been discussing with FIFA in recent weeks.

The winner of Thursday's tie will advance to the quarter-finals, where the field narrows to eight teams.

Photos: Mozzart Sport / FKF