Junior Stars Assistant Coach Anthony Akhulia has highlighted the importance of their next group-stage match against Uganda as a must-win fixture to keep their hopes alive in the U17 Africa Cup of Nations-CECAFA Qualifiers.
This follows their narrow 1-0 defeat to Tanzania in the tournament’s opening match held on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Nakivubo Hamz Stadium, Uganda.
Coach Akhulia’s Remarks
“The boys can play. We picked up momentum in the second half, and we want to build on that as we head into the second match against Uganda,” said Akhulia. “It’s a must-win match if we want to progress, and the team is clear on that.”
The upcoming match will determine the Junior Stars’ fate in the competition, as they face host nation Uganda in their final Group A fixture on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 4:00 pm EAT. A victory is essential for the team to secure a semi-final spot and stay in contention for qualification to the U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Fixture Overview
Group A Matches
- 18/12/2024: Tanzania 1-0 Kenya (Nakivubo Hamz Stadium, 1:00 pm)
- 21/12/2024: Uganda vs Kenya (Nakivubo Hamz Stadium, 4:00 pm)
Knockout Stages
- 24/12/2024: Semi-Final 1 – Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Nakivubo Hamz Stadium, 1:00 pm)
- 24/12/2024: Semi-Final 2 – Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Nakivubo Hamz Stadium, 4:30 pm)
- 27/12/2024: 3rd Place Match – Semi-Final 1 Loser vs Semi-Final 2 Loser (Nakivubo Hamz Stadium, 12:30 pm)
- 27/12/2024: Final – Semi-Final 1 Winner vs Semi-Final 2 Winner (Nakivubo Hamz Stadium, 3:30 pm)
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