Uganda Junior Cranes came from behind to stun Kenya’s Junior Stars 2-1 in a closely contested final played at a fully-packed Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu on Friday. Batiibwe Okello and Travis Mutyaba scored in Uganda's comeback win to cancel Syphas Owuor's opener for Kenya.
The match was the culmination of the 2023 Cecafa Under-18 Boys tournament, where both teams had shown impressive performances throughout the competition. Kenya had topped their group with three wins out of three, beating Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi. Uganda had finished second in their group behind Tanzania, but had beaten Rwanda and Burundi in the knockout stages.
The final was a thrilling affair that saw both teams create chances and test the goalkeepers. Kenya took the lead in the 18th minute through Owuor, who headed in a cross from David Ochieng. Uganda equalized in the 67th minute through Okello, who tapped in a rebound from a shot by Okello Mubarak. The match went into extra time and then into penalties.
In the shootout, both teams scored their first four penalties, with Owuor converting for Kenya and Mutyaba scoring for Uganda. However, Kenya missed their fifth penalty when John Omondi hit the post. Uganda then scored their sixth penalty when Mubarak sent David Ochieng the wrong way. Kenya scored their seventh penalty when Ochieng redeemed himself by beating Denis Onyango. Uganda scored their eighth penalty when Okello Mubarak calmly slotted past David Ochieng.
The final whistle blew and Uganda celebrated their historic victory over their neighbours and rivals. They lifted the Cecafa Under-18 trophy for the first time in front of a jubilant crowd of over 20,000 fans. Kenya were left heartbroken by their defeat, but they can be proud of their performance and potential.
The tournament was also a showcase of some of the best young talents in African football, who will hope to represent their countries at higher levels in the future. Some of them are:
- Syphas Owuor (Kenya): The striker was one of the standout players for Kenya throughout the tournament. He scored four goals in four matches and was named as one of the best players of the tournament.
- Batiibwe Okello (Uganda): The midfielder was instrumental for Uganda's comeback win over Kenya. He scored two goals and assisted one more in four matches and was named as one of the best players of the tournament.
- Travis Mutyaba (Uganda): The winger was another key player for Uganda's success. He scored two goals and assisted two more in four matches and was named as one of the best players of the tournament.
- David Ochieng (Kenya): The goalkeeper was one of the heroes for Kenya throughout the tournament. He kept three clean sheets and made several crucial saves to help his team reach the final.
- Denis Onyango (Uganda): The goalkeeper was another star for Uganda throughout
the tournament. He kept two clean sheets and made several impressive saves to help his team win
the title.
The Cecafa Under-18 Boys tournament is an annual event that features 16 teams from across
the continent competing for glory under 18 years old. It is organized by
the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and serves as a platform for developing
young footballers who will represent Africa at international tournaments such as
the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Sources: [1](^1^), [2](^2^), [3](^3^), [4](^4^), [5](^5^)
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/9/2023
(1) Cecafa U-18 review: What went for Junior Stars?. https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/football/cecafa-u-18-review-what-went-for-junior-stars-uganda-win-4458930.
(2) Uganda stun Kenya to win Cecafa Under-18 tourney in Kisumu. https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/football/uganda-stun-kenya-to-win-cecafa-under-18-tourney-in-kisumu-4457998.
(3) Uganda stun Kenya to win 2023 Cecafa title. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/football/article/2001486953/uganda-stun-kenya-to-win-2023-cecafa-title.
(4) CECAFA U-18 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP | LIVE: CECAFA U-18 Boys - Kenya vs .... https://www.facebook.com/kbcdigital/videos/cecafa-u-18-boys-championship/870220204815553/.
(5) Kenya beat Tanzania 4-3 to reach CECAFA U18 final - The Star. https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-12-05-kenya-beat-tanzania-4-3-to-reach-u18-cecafa-final/.
