Kenya’s Junior Stars head into a make-or-break CECAFA AFCON U17 qualifier bristling with intent and tactical clarity.
Head coach William Muluya has demanded sharper attacking urgency and rock-solid defensive discipline as his side prepares to face South Sudan in Addis Ababa on Monday at 4 pm a fixture that could define Kenya’s route through the group.
The Junior Stars arrive buoyed by a spirited 2–1 comeback over Rwanda, a match turned on its head by substitute Nicholas Ochola, whose late cross set up Trevor Nasasiro for the winner. That resilience has given Muluya belief, but he is under no illusion about the task ahead: this game will largely determine qualification.
“It is a strong side coming from their loss against Ethiopia, but we must win in order to know where we stand against the hosts,” Muluya said, underlining the stakes. “Qualification will depend a lot on this game.
With fixtures arriving in quick succession, recovery has become the team’s silent weapon. Muluya revealed the squad is managing knocks from the relentless schedule and the artificial turf, but he trusts his depth.
“It is more about recovery… Having played yesterday and then again tomorrow, it is all about recovery,” he explained.
“Two or three key players are suffering from knocks… but whoever will get a chance will do their job.”
The coach’s message is clear: bodies may tire, but standards must not slip. Tactical tweaks, smart rotation and meticulous recovery routines will be central to keeping the engine running.
Muluya has set a simple, uncompromising blueprint — score early and control the game. He wants the Junior Stars to press with purpose, convert early chances and avoid the self-inflicted pressure that comes from conceding first.
“We need to defend well but we must score. If we score in the first half — at least two or three goals — it will allow us to manage our load,” he said, stressing the importance of an early cushion to manage energy and game tempo.
Match-winner Trevor Nasasiro echoed the coach’s call for structure and calm. Reflecting on the comeback against Rwanda, he warned against the chaos that follows conceding first.
“We must not concede first… that pressure brings confusion and makes us disoriented,” Nasasiro said, urging teammates to stay disciplined and composed from the first whistle.
This is more than a group game — it is a crossroads. A win would put Kenya in a commanding position as the qualifiers progress; anything less would leave the Junior Stars scrambling.
With tactical discipline, early goals and a squad ready to step up, Muluya’s side will aim to turn ambition into reality under the Addis Ababa sun at 4 pm.
