Kenya's schoolgirls have returned from the 2026 International School Sport Federation (ISF) Football World Cup in Suzhou, China, with a bronze medal after beating Turkey on penalties in the third-place play-off, The Standard reported on Tuesday.

The bronze match ended 1-1 in regulation time, and Kenya won the shoot-out 5-4. It came after a narrow semi-final exit to Germany, also on penalties, in a run that The Standard described as turning supposed underdogs into "giant slayers".

From nine players to the medal podium

Kenya's campaign began in difficult circumstances. According to The Standard, unavoidable delays meant the team started its opening Group B match against Brazil with only nine players, and they lost 1-0.

They recovered quickly, thrashing France 6-1 in their second pool match and then routing Mexico 9-0 to finish second in the group with six points, behind a Brazil side that won all its games. A quarter-final win took them into the last four.

Semi-final heartbreak

In the semi-final, Germany scored from a corner kick in the first half. Kenya dominated possession after the break and equalised in the 68th minute through Marcy Odhiambo, whom The Standard singled out as one of the outstanding players of the tournament. Despite more chances, the game finished 1-1 and went to penalties. Germany converted all their kicks while Kenya scored three, and the Germans won 5-3.

"We fought hard, but I guess this was not our day," Kenya captain Khadija Furaha said after the semi-final, adding that the team would turn its attention to the bronze-medal game. The Standard also reported that the team had complained of a language barrier with match officials, whose quick decisions it felt went against Kenya.

Hosts China went on to beat Germany 5-1 in the girls' final.

Boys miss out, but beat England

Kenya's boys did not get out of their group but recorded wins over Chile, England and Croatia to finish higher in the classification standings. Croatia won the boys' title, beating Guinea 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Germany beat Turkey for third place.

Scouts take notice

Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) secretary general David Ngugi said the tournament had put several players in front of scouts. "We have seen some great performances from our players who have been spotted by scouts," he told The Standard. He said he hoped the exposure would boost their careers, as it did for some players from the 2024 edition who went on to sign professional deals and earn national team call-ups.

The result adds to Kenya's strong record at the ISF event. At the 2024 edition in Dalian, Kenya's girls reached the final before losing to China on penalties. Officials say preparations for the 2028 edition will begin immediately.

The tournament, which opened in Suzhou on 18 October, is organised by the International School Sport Federation and brings together secondary school teams from around the world.

Photos: The Standard