Bring on Uganda! Junior Stars confident ahead of CECAFA U18 final

The junior men’s national football team is one game away from bagging the coveted 2023 CECAFA U18 Championship title.

Junior Stars, who are yet to taste defeat in the regional competition, will battle it out with neighbors Uganda in an eagerly anticipated clash scheduled to start from 2:30 pm at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu.

Kenya bundled out Tanzania in a hotly contested semifinal clash played earlier this week to advance to the finals while Uganda edged past Rwanda. 

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Junior Stars shot stopper Ibrahim Wanzala was instrumental in Kenya’s win against Tanzania, saving two penalties in the post-match spot kicks to secure Kenya’s progression and he is expected to play a crucial role today if Kenya is to lift the trophy.

Uganda will not be an easy match for the Kenyan youngsters because they have played lovely football throughout the entire tournament, letting in one of the fewest goals.

However, Junior Stars skipper Amos Wanjala, who recently landed a move to the Spanish based Nastic Academy is a confident boy ahead of the crunch tie.

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Wanjala has urged the Kenyan fans who are expected to fill the venue to capacity and those set to watch the game from the comfort of their homes and offices to believe.

“We expected to win the semis though we did not imagine it would be so tough. In the final we want to give a great display at home playing in front of our fans. 

The team is ready, the boys are confident of playing a great game and I am too. To the fans, I say, think positive and let’s believe,” stated the St. Anthony’s Boys High School, Kitale alumni.

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On his part, Junior Stars tactician Salim Babu has revealed that he is not bothered by the physicality of Ugandan players. 

“I don’t look at the bodies of our opponents. Our youngsters should just put their brains to good use and we shall win,” he stated.

Rwanda and Uganda will curtain raise the final when they lock horns for the third-place position from 11 am at the same venue. 

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Should Kenya trounce rivals Uganda, it will be coach Salim Babu’s first title since his appointment a few weeks ago.

The winners of the tournament are expected to pocket a whopping Ksh 2,400,000 in prize money.