Junior Stars 'ready' to take care of business in CECAFA U-18 Boys Championships

Salim Babu, head coach of Kenya U18s boys football side - Junior Stars - believes that the squad at his dismissal is good enough to fight and ultimately win the upcoming CECAFA U-18 Boys Championships set for 25- 9 December.

The tournament, which has attracted eight nations in the region, is set to be played in Kisumu and Kakamega, with games alternating between the Mamboleo and Bukhungu Stadiums respectively.

Having been in training for a week, Babu admitted that his squad was all ready, with their expectations sky-high.

“This is a good team that I think all Kenyans will be happy about,” the Kenya Police assistant coach said on Wednesday at the team’s camp in Kasarani. “Every member is fit, no injuries reported and they are prepared to win it all.”

Given that the championship is at home, Babu added that there was extra motivation in that, saying: “We will not let Kenyans down this time. We’ve been pushing the boys and they are a very energetic lot that have high expectations to even represent the country at the senior level in future.”

Hosts Kenya to face Sudan, Rwanda in CECAFA U-18 Boys Championships

Aldrine Kibet, one of the midfielders called up to the team, added: “The last couple of days has seen us build chemistry and coordination. We are bonding well and there is a positive mood because we are all aspiring for greatness.”

The team is expected to travel to Kisumu on Thursday in readiness for its first match in Group A against Sudan on Saturday 25 November at the Mamboleo Stadium.

The match will kick off at 1500 EAT, preceded by another Group A clash between Somalia and Rwanda at the same venue from noon.

The winners of each group will face off against the runners up in the next round - semi finals - that will take place on 5 December in Kisumu.

The finals will be held at the same venue on Tuesday 8 December.

The Group and Knockout matches are set to be played as follows:

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Group A (Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu)

Somalia vs Rwanda (12 noon)

Kenya vs Sudan (3 pm)

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Group B (Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega)

Zanzibar vs South Sudan (12 noon)

Tanzania vs Uganda (3 pm)

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Group A (Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu)

Kenya vs Rwanda (12 noon)

Somalia vs Sudan (3 pm)

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Group B (Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega)

Tanzania vs South Sudan (12 noon)

Zanzibar vs Uganda (3 pm)

Friday, December 1, 2023

Rwanda vs Sudan (Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu, 3 pm)

Kenya vs Somalia (Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, 3pm)

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Uganda vs South Sudan (Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu, 3 pm)

Tanzania vs Zanzibar (Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, 3pm)

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Semi-Final 1~Winner Pool A vs Runners Up Pool B (Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu,12 noon)

Semi-Final 2~Winner Pool B vs Runners Up Pool A (Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu, 3:30 pm)

Tuesday, December 8, 2023

3rd/4thPlay-Off~Loser Semi-Final 1 vs Loser Semi-Final 2 (Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu, 12 noon)

Final ~ Winner Semi-Final 1 vs Winner Semi-Final 2 (Mamboleo Stadium, Kisumu, 3 pm)