Football

Winner takes all as Kenya’s Junior Stars battle Uganda in highly anticipated CECAFA Under-18 final

Kenya's Junior Stars in action against Tanzania in the semi-final of the CECAFA Under-28 Championship (Photo: CECAFA Online/Twitter)

By Sports Reporter | Friday, December 8, 2023

Coach Salim Babu has urged fans to show their support, highlighting the crucial role they play in the team's success. "Kenyans were amazing on Tuesday. Come again today, and we celebrate victory together. We want to go on the attack from kick-off against Uganda and finish the job early," he added.

After two intense weeks of competition in Kakamega and Kisumu, Kenya's Junior Stars are set to face off against arch-rivals Uganda in the final of the 2023 Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) Under-18 championships at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium this afternoon (2:30 pm).

The highly anticipated final will be staged after the third-place playoff match between Tanzania and Rwanda (11 am), bringing the regional junior showpiece to a thrilling conclusion.

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Expressing confidence during their final training session at Kasagam Secondary School, Junior Stars goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala, the hero of the semi-final penalty shootout against Tanzania, emphasised the team's readiness for the final.

"After the gruelling semifinal, the boys are rearing to go again. It was amazing saving the two penalties and helping Kenya to the final, and I'm confident ahead of the final. We know it will not be easy vs Uganda, but we are mentally prepared for everything and we are going to fight until the end," he said.

Coach Salim Babu urged fans to show their support, highlighting the crucial role they play in the team's success. "Kenyans were amazing on Tuesday. Come again today, and we celebrate victory together. We want to go on the attack from kick-off against Uganda and finish the job early," he added.

We have come to the climax of the CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship🔥
Losses, wins, disappointments, celebrations... were all part of the experience😍⚽️

Tomorrow, Uganda 🇺🇬 and Kenya 🇰🇪 are battling it out at the finals!#CECAFAU18 pic.twitter.com/ap9SglUkir

— Cecafaonline (@Cecafaonline) December 7, 2023

Junior Stars are the only unbeaten side in the tournament, with convincing victories in the preliminary matches against Somalia (4-1), Sudan (5-0), and Rwanda (1-0), securing the top spot in Group A with nine points and 10 goals.

Aldrine Kibet, leading the goal-scoring charts with three goals, will be eager to rebound after being silenced in the semifinal against Tanzania

Cecafa CEO Auka Gecheo assured improved security measures for the final, with a capped limit of 15,000 fans and no pitch invasion allowed, addressing concerns raised during the semifinals.