Junior Starlets are still waiting on four key players to join camp as preparations intensify for Kenya’s second FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup appearance in Morocco.Faith Boke, Noelina Akuku, Marcy Awuor and Mwanakombo Bakari are yet to join the residential camp, leaving head coach Mildred Cheche with an incomplete squad as she continues to shape the team for the global tournament.##NAJAVA_MECA_9961678##Three of the absentees are from Butere Girls, where they remain in school as the national team seeks their release.Bakari, who featured prominently during Kenya’s successful qualification campaign, is currently in the United States after securing a scholarship.“Most of our players have reported to camp. We are missing four, three of whom are from Butere Girls. They are yet to be released, but we have communicated with them,” the tactician said during a training session at the Kasarani Annex.Boke, Akuku and Awuor are part of the 30-player provisional squad and remain in contention for the final 25-member World Cup team.Bakari’s situation is slightly different, with the forward now based in the United States.The technical bench is nevertheless keeping the door open for her return should circumstances allow.“We also have Bakari, who got a scholarship in the US. Hopefully, we will have her in the future, or even before the World Cup,” the coach added.CAF President Patrice Motsepe to visit Nairobi as AFCON 2027 preparations intensifyWith several weeks still remaining before the tournament begins, the technical team has continued to adjust the squad following extensive scouting during school competitions.A number of new players have been brought into the setup as the coaching staff seeks to strengthen different areas of the team while also making tactical changes ahead of the tournament.“We have made a few changes in how we are going to approach the matches and also added a few players to give us an edge. Hopefully, that works out for us,” Cheche said.Gor Mahia introduce season tickets for 2026/27 campaignKenya secured a second consecutive World Cup appearance after an impressive qualifying campaign that saw them eliminate Namibia, Uganda and South Africa.The Junior Starlets defeated South Africa 5-1 on aggregate in the final qualifying round to book their place in Morocco.They have been drawn in Group E alongside China, the United States and Samoa.The campaign begins against China on 19 October before the African representatives face the United States three days later.They will conclude their group-stage campaign against Samoa on 25 October.South Sudan Premier League's influence on young players faces acid test against Kenya U20Pauline Namisi says the ongoing residential camp is also being used to address shortcomings identified during the qualification campaign.“We are working hard to rectify the mistakes we made during the qualifiers so that we don’t repeat them on the biggest stage in Morocco,” Namisi said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9961638##The tournament runs from 17 October to 7 November, leaving the technical bench with time to resolve the availability of the four players, finalise the squad and fine-tune preparations before Kenya heads to Morocco.