U17AFCONQ: Unbeaten Junior Stars seek to keep semis hope alive in clash against South Sudan
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 24.11.25. | 08:48
Coach William Muluya hopes that the team will win the match connivingly and inch closer to the last four
The Junior Stars return to action today, Monday, 24 November, for their third 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) - CECAFA qualifiers Group A match against South Sudan at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, Addis Ababa, from 4 pm.
The Kenyan boys head to the match with four points, having drawn in their first match against Somalia(1-1) before staging a second-half comeback to secure a 2-1 win against Rwanda.
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As it stands, Junior Stars are second on the five-team group with four points, three off group leaders Ethiopia, who have played three games.
South Sudan, on the other hand, are fourth with a point picked from a draw in their opening match against Somalia.
Kenya will hope to secure maximum points against South Sudan and inch closer to the semi-finals.
While a win of any kind would equal their point tally to Ethiopia, Kenya will need a win of a five-goal margin to move to the top of the group standings.
Junior Stars coach William Muluya so well understands the importance of this clash to his team’s qualification chances.
“It will be a tough game against a strong South Sudan side, but we have to try and win it to make it easier against Ethiopia (Kenya’s last group match). Our qualification depends on the results against South Sudan,” said Muluya.
The Kariobangi Sharks tactician called for improvement on both ends of the pitch.
“We need to defend well. In this tournament, you have to defend well, but at the same time, you have to score. We have only scored three goals, and so we have to score a goal or two in the first half to have a better second half,” he added.
Muluya’s words were echoed by Nathan Achola, who has been impressive on the flanks for Kenya.
“We should not be the first to concede because it brings pressure to both the technical bench and the players. Against Ethiopia, we need to keep possession and increase the tempo when we approach the final third,” stated Achola
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