AFCON U-17 Qualifiers: Junior Stars Suffer First Defeat to Ethiopia but Keep Hopes to Qualify for Morocco Alive

Junior Stars suffered their first defeat of the campaign as Ethiopia's second-half goal secured the win, but they have still advanced to face Tanzania in the semi-finals.

Junior Stars suffered their first defeat of the CAF U17 AFCON CECAFA Qualifiers at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, as Ethiopia scored in the second half to secure the win.

Junior Stars had already qualified for the semifinal, thanks to their strong performance in the group matches leading up to their encounter against Ethiopia.

The match against Ethiopia was to determine the semifinal opponent they would be up against. The winner of the group, Ethiopia, will face Uganda, the Group B Runner-up, and the Group A Runner-up, Kenya, will face Tanzania, the Group B Winner, in the semi-finals.

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Ethiopia vs Kenya: First Half Action

Junior Stars started brightly, pressing Ethiopia and creating early chances within the first 10 minutes. However, the hosts quickly responded with equal intensity, pushing back and testing the young Kenyan side.

The packed Ethiopian crowd, chanting passionately throughout, gave the home team a significant lift as the game settled into a fierce contest.

The match maintained its high tempo, with the Junior Stars relentlessly pushing for a breakthrough despite the distractions off the pitch and the challenge of facing a far more experienced opponent.

Ethiopia made a substitution just before the 30th minute, with Amanuel Guta leaving the pitch and Kalid Akmel going in to replace him.

Ethiopia earned a corner after the goalkeeper failed to keep the ball in play and sent it out. The initial delivery did not produce a goal but led to another corner, which the Junior Stars defended well, leaving the home side frustrated once again.

Junior Stars earned a free kick in the 40th minute, but they were unable to capitalise on it, extending their wait for a breakthrough. At halftime break, the scores read 0-0.

Ethiopia vs Kenya: Second Half

Coming back in for the second half, both teams had the intention of finding the back of the net and taking the bragging rights of the group.

Ethiopia made an early strike, but the Junior Stars keeper was woke as he grabbed the ball decisively. However, that did not deter the Ethiopian side from pressing harder. Junior Stars also created chances that were not converted successfully.

The Ethiopians continued to trouble Junior Stars with a series of dangerous opportunities, and their sustained pressure finally paid off in the 62nd minute when they found the breakthrough with a well-taken strike.

The goal served as a wake-up call for Junior Stars, pushing them to increase their urgency as they chased an equaliser, and possibly even a comeback, to keep Kenya's hopes alive.

William Muluya responded in the 73rd minute by bringing on Elvis Kimondo for Nathan Ochola, a tactical switch aimed at shifting the momentum in Kenya's favour.

Junior Stars pressed on, hoping to score, but their efforts were thwarted as Ethiopia’s counterattacks threatened a second goal.

CAF U17 AFCON CECAFA Qualifiers: Junior Stars Campaign So Far

Junior Stars were off to an impressive and steady climb in the qualifiers. The fight began with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Somalia on November 18, 2025, where the Junior Stars conceded a lead but managed to hold on.

They quickly found their winning form with a resilient 2-1 comeback victory over Rwanda. The young side sealed their semi-final berth with a convincing 2-0 win over South Sudan on November 25.

Goals from Derrick Wanyonyi and a late strike from Trevor Nasasiro highlighted the team's ability to capitalise on pressure and maintain a solid defence, securing a crucial clean sheet. Nasasiro has been in fine form, with the South Sudan goal being his second of the tournament.