The Junior Stars are preparing for a decisive clash with Ethiopia in the third-place playoff of the CECAFA U17 AFCON Qualifiers—a match that will determine the final East African representative at the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Kenya opened their Group A campaign with a hard-fought draw against Somalia, then gathered momentum with consecutive victories over Rwanda and South Sudan.
Their only setback came in the final group match, where they fell to Ethiopia—now their opponents once again in this high-stakes showdown.
Although they missed out on automatic qualification by failing to reach the tournament final, the Junior Stars have been handed a second chance.
The team remains highly motivated, viewing this playoff as both a shot at redemption and a pathway to the continental stage.
Head coach William Muluya has urged his players to stay focused, composed, and confident as they prepare for this crucial encounter.
The squad is charged with belief and determined to seize this last opportunity to secure a historic ticket to the U17 AFCON.
With everything on the line, the Junior Stars will be fighting not only for qualification, but also for pride and the honour of representing Kenya on the grand stage in Morocco.
