Kenya U17 National team, the Junior Stars will tussle it out with Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Rwanda in Group A for the upcoming CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Qualifiers this month.
In a statement on October 31, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced that the Kenya U17 national team have known their opponents for the upcoming U17 AFCON CECAFA Qualifiers following the official draw held today in Kampala, Uganda.
The regional qualifiers, scheduled to take place from November 15 to December 2, 2025, will be hosted in Ethiopia, with group A matches set to be held at Abebe Bikila Stadium, Addis Ababa while group B matches will be held at Dire Dawa Stadium.
Junior Stars have been placed alongside Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Rwanda in what promises to be a competitive pool while Group B will feature Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan and Burundi.
Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, where the Group A winner faces the Group B runner-up and vice versa. The two finalists will earn CECAFA’s slots at the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
These qualifiers will serve as a crucial platform for the region’s emerging talents to showcase their potential, as the race to book a ticket to the 2026 AFCON begins.
Meanwhile, the Junior Stars will head into the tournament under new leadership after Kariobangi Sharks head coach William Muluya was appointed the Kenya U-17 head coach, deputised by Shabana FC’s Peter Okidi.
By Anita Omwenga
