Junior Stars exit AFCON qualifiers after defeat to Somalia

Kenya's Junior Stars were eliminated from the CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA qualifiers following a 2-0 defeat to Somalia at Kigali Pele Stadium on Wednesday.

Kenya needed a win to keep their hopes alive after losing with a similar scoreline against Tanzania in their opener last Saturday.

A lack of attacking edge and costly lapses at the back proved decisive as Somalia went ahead in the first half. Sloppy defending gave the opening, and Somalia’s captain Mahmud Osman, who shone throughout the match, punished it clinically.

Kenya's best chance of the half fell to captain Ian Nzisa but his effort on goal was parried to safety, leaving the Junior Stars chasing the game.

The Stars kept pushing after the break without creating enough to trouble the keeper again. Then, in the 84th minute, Abdullahi Hashi sealed the result with a free-kick, curling the ball beyond the keeper's right and into the top corner.

Somalia were the better side in shape, both with and without the ball, and were always a threat on the counter thanks to their pace.

Kenya, by contrast, struggled to turn possession into clear chances, a problem that has dogged the side throughout the tournament.

Somalia, who had drawn 1-1 with Tanzania earlier in the tournament, now carry real momentum into the knockout stage. Only the group winners and the best runner-up advance to the semifinals, and Kenya, with no wins from their two matches, leave the competition.

It is a painful outcome for head coach William Muluya, who narrowly missed out on qualification last year after Kenya finished fourth in the CECAFA qualifiers in Addis Ababa.