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Junior Stars face Tanzania in search of AFCON U17 ticket

Junior Stars face Tanzania in search of AFCON U17 ticket
Junior Stars in action against Somalia in 2025 AFCON U17 Qualifiers at Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. PHOTO/https://www.facebook.com/onlinececafa/photos

Kenya’s Junior Stars will be out to secure a spot in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations U17 tournament in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Qualifiers semi-final clash against Tanzania.

The game will be played on Sunday, November 30, at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, starting at 12:00 pm local time.

William Muluya’s boys reached the semi-final stage after finishing second in Group A behind hosts Ethiopia. The Kenyan boys had a fair run in the qualifiers after recording two wins, a draw, and a defeat in their four outings.

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.

A win against Tanzania will keep Kenya on course for a place at the 2026 AFCON U17 finals in Morocco, as the finalists will earn CECAFA’s two tickets to the 2026 U17 AFCON. Junior Stars’ squad features a mix of promising talents drawn from school teams, many of whom impressed during the recent regional scouting and training camps.

Final squad

Goalkeepers: Georgian Chris, Golan Oliech, William Owino

Defenders: Cosmas Asunga, Eugene Ochieng, Nevil Simiyu, Stephen Ochieng, Edwin Annan, Raphael Omondi, Brighton Moses, Julius Ochieng, Trevor Maluki

Midfielders: Derrick Mchiti, Wayne Wamaya, Derrick Khatete, Rayse Ochieng, Armstrong Omondi, Brighton Nacheri, Denzel Omollo

Forwards: Nicholas Onyango, Trevor Nasasiro, Nathan Achola, Collins Ochieng, Jeconia Agutu, Marcos William

Junior Stars celebrating their win against Rwanda on Friday, November 21, 2025. PHOTO/Kevin Teya
Junior Stars celebrating their win against Rwanda on Friday, November 21, 2025. PHOTO/Kevin Teya

Technical bench

William Muluya – Head Coach

Peter Okidi – Assistant Coach

Kenedy Mbunga – Assistant Coach

Abdul Iddi Salim – Goalkeeper Coach

Eric Muranda – Strength and conditioning

Stephen Mwangi – Kit Manager

Andrew Ijela – Safeguarding officer

Edwin Gumbo – Team Doctor

Shaban Masika -Team Manager

Fixtures/Results

Somalia 1-1 Kenya | November 18, 2025 | 4:00 pm

Kenya 2-1 Rwanda | November 21, 2025 | 1:00 pm

Kenya 2-0 South Sudan | November 24, 2025 | 4:00 pm

Ethiopia 1-0 Kenya | November 27, 2025 | 3:00 pm

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