Mwanakombo Bakari scores twice as Kenya overcome two opening defeats to claim the final best third-placed spot and set up a Round of 16 clash with Japan.

Kenya’s Junior Starlets have made history by reaching the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time after thrashing Samoa 4-0 in their final Group E match in Morocco on Sunday.

Mwanakombo Bakari scored twice, while Brenda Awuor and Gaudancia Maloba also found the net as Kenya registered their first victory of the tournament at the Mohammed VI Football Academy.

The emphatic win, combined with results from other groups, secured Kenya the final available Round of 16 spot as one of the four best third-placed teams. It turned what appeared to be an early tournament exit into a historic breakthrough for the country.