By Francis Onyach - Reporter
2 December 2025 - Kenya’s Junior Stars (Harambee Stars U-17) go into a high-stakes third-place play-off against hosts Ethiopia on Tuesday (today), a match that will decide the final CECAFA spot for the 2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The winners will claim the bronze of the regional event and punch their ticket to the continental finals next year.
The tie will be played at Addis Ababa’s Abebe Bikila Stadium, with the Kenya FA and Harambee Stars social channels promoting a 12:00 noon kickoff.
Fans should follow the official team and CECAFA updates for confirmation on kick-off.
Kenya reached the play-off after a campaign that showed promise but ultimately fell short in the semi-finals. Tanzania ran out 3-1 winners in the semi-final, putting them through as one of the region’s qualifiers; Uganda secured the other spot after beating Ethiopia. That means Kenya must now overcome the hosts to snatch the final qualification spot.
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Coach William Muluya, who named a 25-man travelling squad for the CECAFA qualifiers, has urged calm and belief among his players as they go for one last chance at continental qualification. The technical bench will lean on the resilience and attacking options that have delivered moments of quality during the tournament.
Ethiopia will feel confident playing at home and has shown the ability to grind out results; Kenya, meanwhile, possesses quick, wide players and a counter-attacking threat that forced moments of trouble for opponents throughout the competition. Trevor Nasasiro, who has come off the bench to make decisive contributions earlier in the tournament, is one name Kenya supporters will hope can deliver in the final third.
For the players involved, this is more than one match; it is a life-changing pathway. Qualification to the U-17 AFCON gives young talents exposure on a continental stage, opening doors to scouts, scholarship opportunities and a clearer route into senior national setups.
For Kenyan football, a slot in Morocco 2026 would be another concrete sign that the country’s youth development structures are starting to produce results.
