Kenya suffers 3-0 defeat to defending champions as Teen Cranes march into final, leaving Junior Starlets to battle for bronze.
Nairobi, KENYA – Kenya’s hopes of lifting their first-ever CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship trophy came to an end on Sunday after the Junior Starlets fell to a dominant Uganda side in the semi-finals at KMC Stadium.
The defending champions produced a clinical performance to secure a 3-0 victory, booking their place in the final while Kenya were pushed into the third-place playoff.
Uganda made their intentions clear from the opening minutes, controlling possession and applying early pressure on the Kenyan defence. Their aggressive start was rewarded in the sixth minute when Shadia Nabirye reacted fastest inside the box following a set piece to give the Teen Cranes an early advantage.
The early goal unsettled Kenya, forcing the Junior Starlets to defend deep as Uganda continued to dictate the tempo. Despite moments of attacking promise from Tabitha Wambui and Lindey Atieno, Kenya struggled to break down a disciplined Ugandan backline.
Five minutes before halftime, Uganda extended their lead through a well-worked attacking move. Nabirye turned from scorer to provider, driving into the penalty area before delivering a precise cut-back for Immaculate Acen, who calmly finished to make it 2-0.
Needing a strong comeback after the break, Kenya showed greater urgency in the second half and introduced fresh players in search of a lifeline. Substitute Brenda Achieng came close on several occasions, while Bakari Mwanakombo tested Uganda goalkeeper Adam Manyimuna as the Junior Starlets pushed forward.
However, Uganda remained composed and eventually sealed the victory when Justine Ayerango scored the third goal, confirming the Teen Cranes’ return to the final as they continue their pursuit of another regional title.
The defeat was particularly painful for Kenya given the recent rivalry between the two teams. Earlier this year, the Junior Starlets eliminated Uganda from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers after a 1-1 draw in Kampala and a goalless return leg in Nairobi, progressing on the away-goals rule.
Uganda head coach Sheryl Botes acknowledged that previous encounters influenced her team’s approach, saying they entered the match determined to score multiple goals against a Kenyan side they considered difficult opponents.
“Our main objective was that we have to score more than one goal. Our experience has shown that against Kenya, scoring one goal isn’t enough,” Botes said.
Kenya had reached the semi-finals unbeaten, defeating Sudan and Somalia before drawing with hosts Tanzania to finish second in Group A. Uganda, meanwhile, topped their group after victories against South Sudan, Zanzibar and Djibouti before maintaining their impressive form in the knockout stage.
Although the result ended Kenya’s championship ambitions, the Junior Starlets still have an opportunity to finish the tournament on a high note when they contest the third-place playoff.
Uganda, on the other hand, continue their title defence and once again underline their dominance as one of the strongest women’s youth football teams in the CECAFA region.
