FKF boss vows to revive youth football after Junior Stars missed AFCON U17 ticket
By Joel Masibo, December 2, 2025Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed has hinted at enhancing youth football development after the Junior Stars missed out on the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations U-17 ticket.
Junior Stars’ hopes of reaching the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations went up in smoke after losing 3-0 to hosts Ethiopia in the CECAFA U17 qualifiers third-place playoff in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
The match at the Abebe Bikila Stadium was a do-or-die for the final qualification slot available to the region. Uganda and Tanzania had already sealed their places by reaching the final, leaving Kenya and Ethiopia to battle for the remaining ticket. However, the Kenyan side could not recover from their semi-final setback and ended the tournament empty-handed.
Kenya’s boys entered the playoff under pressure after their 3-1 loss to Tanzania on Sunday, while Ethiopia arrived in the decider from their own difficult outing, having fallen 3-0 to Uganda in the other semi-final.
Strengthening youth football
Following the defeat, the FKF boss has vowed to go back to the drawing board as a federation to seal the loopholes in developing youth football countrywide.
”Disappointing outcome for the Junior Stars today, losing 3–0 to Ethiopia. But we take this as a lesson and a motivation.”
“We must build firmer youth systems, deepen development programmes, and plan more deliberately for the long term. The boys gave their all, and we will give ours in creating an environment that sets them up for success,” Hussein Mohammed said via X on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
In the unsuccessful campaign, Junior Stars drew 1-1 with Somalia in their opening fixture of the AFCON U17 qualifiers, came from behind to beat Rwanda 2-1, and edged South Sudan 2-0. The Kenyan side then lost 1-0 to hosts Ethiopia, qualifying for the semis with seven points.
Junior Stars’ squad featured a mix of promising talents drawn from school teams, many of whom impressed during the recent regional scouting and training camps.