According to a report published by FIFA.com on Sunday, October 25, 2026, 17-year-old Mwanakombo Bakari Nlela has emerged as the Player of the Match after delivering an outstanding performance in Kenya’s 4-0 victory over Samoa at the ongoing 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The talented midfielder played a crucial role in helping Kenya’s U-17 women’s national team secure a convincing win in their final Group E encounter. Her two goals proved instrumental in the Junior Starlets’ impressive performance, significantly improving their chances of progressing further in the tournament.

Bakari opened the scoring just four minutes into the match, giving Kenya an early advantage and setting the tone for the encounter. She continued to trouble the opposition throughout the game before finding the net again in the 64th minute, completing her brace and strengthening Kenya’s dominance.

Brenda Awuor also contributed to the victory by scoring in the 44th minute, ensuring Kenya entered the break with a comfortable lead. Gaudancia Maloba extended the advantage in the 62nd minute, before Bakari added her second goal shortly afterwards to complete the 4-0 triumph.

Her contribution earned her the Player of the Match recognition, highlighting her importance to the Kenyan team as they concluded their group-stage campaign with a memorable performance.

The victory represented a significant turnaround for Kenya, who had struggled in their opening two matches. The Junior Starlets began their campaign with a 3-0 defeat against China PR on October 19 before suffering a heavy 6-1 loss to the United States on October 22.

During their encounter with the United States, Lindey Weey Atieno scored Kenya’s only goal in stoppage time, providing a consolation for the East African side despite the disappointing result.

However, the emphatic win over Samoa allowed Kenya to recover from those setbacks and achieve a historic qualification for the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Their progression marks an important milestone for Kenyan women’s football and offers the team an opportunity to continue making history on the international stage.

Born on June 7, 2009, Bakari plays as a midfielder for Kombani Queens in Kenya. Standing at 148 centimetres tall, the young footballer has demonstrated her attacking ability and potential through her influential display against Samoa, emerging as one of Kenya’s standout performers in the competition.