Brilliant Ugandan girls end Junior Starlets' bid for regional glory
Reading Time: 5min | Sun. 21.06.26. | 14:55
Kenya had reached the semi-finals after registering back-to-back victories over Sudan and Somalia before drawing with hosts Tanzania to finish second in Group A
Defending champions, Uganda, booked their place in the final of the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women's Championship after producing a commanding display to defeat Kenya's Junior Starlets 3-0 in the first semi-final played on Sunday at KMC Stadium.
First-half strikes from Shadia Nabirye and Immaculate Acen proved decisive as the Teen Cranes continued their impressive unbeaten run in the tournament, securing a return to the championship final and keeping alive their hopes of successfully defending the regional crown.
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With a place in the final at stake, both sides entered the contest carrying unbeaten records and full of confidence.
Kenya had reached the semi-finals after registering back-to-back victories over Sudan and Somalia before drawing with hosts Tanzania to finish second in Group A.
Uganda, meanwhile, arrived as the tournament's form side, having won all their group-stage matches against South Sudan, Zanzibar and Djibouti while scoring freely and conceding little.
The Teen Cranes started the match brightly and immediately asserted their authority, dominating possession and pinning Kenya deep inside their own half during the opening exchanges.
Their early pressure paid dividends just six minutes into the contest.
Uganda won successive corner kicks on the right flank through the lively Martha Babirye. The first delivery was headed away by Kenya captain Bervaline Awour, but the danger was not fully cleared.
From the resulting corner, Babirye whipped in another teasing delivery that proved difficult for goalkeeper Mishel Okoyo to handle.
The ball slipped from the keeper's grasp inside the six-yard box, allowing the alert Nabirye to react quickest and poke home from close range to hand Uganda a deserved early lead.
Kenya attempted to respond immediately and nearly found an equaliser in the 12th minute through Tabitha Wambui.
The forward burst past her marker before unleashing a shot at goal, but her effort drifted narrowly wide of the target.
Five minutes later, the Junior Starlets threatened again.
Lindey Atieno stepped up to take a free kick from a promising position and sent a dipping effort towards goal.
However, the strike lacked sufficient power to trouble Uganda goalkeeper Adam Manyimuna, who gathered comfortably.
Uganda remained dangerous whenever they ventured forward and almost doubled their lead in the 23rd minute.
Flavia Yagala threaded a precise pass into the path of Immaculate Acen, who shrugged off her marker before firing a powerful volley goalwards.
Kenya defender Jael Nanjala was equal to the task, making a crucial block to keep her side within touching distance.
The Teen Cranes continued to dominate proceedings and created another opportunity three minutes before the half-hour mark.
Nabirye rose highest to meet Justine Ayerango's corner kick but was denied by a well-positioned Okoyo, who produced a timely save.
Nabirye was causing problems throughout the Kenyan defence and came close again ten minutes before halftime.
The striker collected possession inside the penalty area before curling an effort towards the far corner, forcing Okoyo into another full-stretch save.
Kenya, however, continued to search for a way back into the contest and nearly levelled through Emily Adhiambo.
Combining well with Elizabeth Alizeba, the midfielder found space outside the area before sending a long-range effort just wide of the upright with the Ugandan goalkeeper beaten.
Despite Kenya's occasional attacking moments, Uganda remained firmly in control and were rewarded with a second goal five minutes before the interval.
A loose pass in midfield allowed Uganda to regain possession through Lydia Namaseruka, who quickly released the ball to Nabirye on the right wing.
Turning provider after opening the scoring earlier, Nabirye drove into the box before delivering a precise cut-back pass to Immaculate Acen.
The forward calmly controlled the ball before firing a low drive beyond Okoyo and into the back of the net to double Uganda's advantage.
The defending champions nearly added a third goal before the break through Brenda Nassaka.
Following an intricate passage of midfield play, the midfielder found herself in a promising shooting position but saw her effort blocked by Pauline Namisi as Uganda headed into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
The second half resumed much like the first, with Uganda carrying the greater attacking threat.
Ten minutes after the restart, captain Justine Ayerango nearly extended her side's lead.
The skipper whipped a dangerous delivery into Kenya's penalty area, but Namisi reacted quickly to intercept and clear the danger.
Kenya introduced fresh legs in search of a comeback and almost reduced the deficit at the hour mark through substitute Brenda Achieng.
The forward latched onto a long ball from Awour but failed to hit the target with her effort.
Moments later, Achieng threatened again. This time she met a long pass from Nanjala and directed an effort towards goal, only for goalkeeper Manyimuna to rush off her line and produce an important save.
Uganda responded with another chance of their own.
Ayerango stepped up to take a free kick from approximately 25 yards but saw her effort sail narrowly wide.
The Junior Starlets continued to push forward and nearly found a breakthrough through Bakari Mwanakombo.
The diminutive midfielder surged down the flank before unleashing a powerful volley that forced Manyimuna into a sharp save.
At the opposite end, Uganda remained dangerous on the counterattack.
Flavia Yagala nearly added a third goal after racing through the middle, but Okoyo reacted swiftly to snuff out the danger.
As the match entered its final ten minutes, Kenya intensified their search for a goal.
Mwanakombo came close once more, but her effort skimmed over the crossbar as frustration began to grow within the Kenyan ranks.
Uganda almost delivered the final blow in the dying moments through Yagala.
The attacker expertly controlled a lofted pass inside the penalty area before firing towards goal, but her effort struck the side netting.
Despite Kenya's determination and several promising attacks, Uganda remained composed defensively and comfortably saw out the remainder of the contest to secure a deserved victory.
The result extended Uganda's dominance over Kenya in the CECAFA U-17 Women's Championship and propelled the defending champions into yet another final.
The Teen Cranes will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Tanzania and South Sudan as they continue their quest to retain the regional title.
For Kenya, however, the defeat marked a painful end to an encouraging campaign.
The Junior Starlets' hopes of avenging their 2019 loss to Uganda and capturing their first CECAFA U-17 Women's Championship crown were dashed by a clinical Ugandan side that once again demonstrated why they remain the team to beat in the region.