Kenya U17’s suffered a 3-1 defeat to 2014 champions Japan to be eliminated from the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in a clash staged at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé, Morocco on Thursday, October 29th.
Japan came from behind to secure victory, with second-half goals from Nanami Kurita and Asuka Tanaka sending the Asian side into the quarter-finals, where they will face Ghana.
Kenya broke the deadlock in the 30th minute through Brenda Achieng after captain Bervalyne Awuor launched a long ball forward, which Achieng controlled before unleashing a low strike past Kadowaki to give the Junior Starlets the lead.
Hanashiro Mei, scored the leveller after she capitalised on a loose ball after Noa Ito’s effort deflected off the Kenyan skipper, guiding it into the net to restore parity as both sides went into the break level.
Japan eventually completed the turnaround just before the hour mark, with Nanami Kurita finding the back of the net to put her side 2-1 ahead.
Tanaka then put the result beyond Kenya’s reach in the 74th minute. The second-half substitute collected Runa Sumiya’s delivery, created space against her marker and fired towards goal, with her effort taking a deflection off the inside of the post before crossing the line.
The result brings Kenya’s second FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup campaign to an end at the round of 16, marking a significant improvement on their group-stage exit at the previous edition, while Japan advance to the last eight to face Ghana.
