Elizabeth Mideva turned saviour in the dying minutes, striking a decisive blow that has kept Kenya’s hopes of a global debut firmly on track. In a tense, nerve-wracking encounter at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, the Rising Starlets edged out Tanzania’s Tanzanite Queens 1-0, securing a slender but critical advantage in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier.

The 85th-minute goal was a moment of pure relief for the home crowd. After nearly an hour and a half of deadlock, where the Tanzanian defence stood firm against waves of Kenyan attacks, Mideva found the back of the net, breaking the resistance and sending the stadium into a frenzy. The victory means Kenya carries a lead—however fragile—into the return leg, but the job is far from done.

A Battle of East African Giants

This was never going to be an easy fixture. The rivalry between Kenya and Tanzania has grown fierce in women’s football, and Saturday’s clash lived up to the billing. Coach Jackline Juma’s side dominated possession but struggled to convert their chances until Mideva’s intervention. The win puts the Rising Starlets within touching distance of the fourth round, where they would face either Cameroon or Namibia.

However, the mood in the Tanzanian camp remains defiant. Head coach Bakari Shime issued a chilling warning to the Kenyans immediately after the final whistle. "Had you scored two or three goals, you would have succeeded, but with this single goal, you haven't," Shime declared, signaling that the return leg in Dar es Salaam will be a hostile war of attrition.

• The Stakes: The aggregate winner of this two-legged tie advances to the penultimate round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in Poland.
• The Return Leg: The teams meet again on Saturday, February 14, at the Azam Sports Complex in Chamazi. Kenya needs only a draw to progress, while Tanzania must win by two clear goals.

Tactical Discipline Required

Coach Juma was elated but pragmatic. "We achieved our goal of getting a win at home," she said, acknowledging the toughness of the opposition. The Starlets will need to be at their tactical best in Tanzania. The "Tanzanite Queens" will be backed by a raucous home crowd and will throw everything at the Kenyan defence. The slim 1-0 margin leaves no room for error.

As the squad prepares to travel to Dar es Salaam, the equation is simple: survive 90 minutes in hostile territory, and the dream of playing on the world stage in Poland moves one step closer to reality. For now, Mideva is the hero, but next week, the whole team must be warriors.