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Uganda silenced the large Kenyan crowd that flocked Mamboleo to witness Junior Stars contest the final thanks to a Hakim Mutebi strike.
Junior Stars had to endure heartbreak in extra time as Uganda came from behind to shock Kenya 2-1 in the final of the CECAFA U18 Championships held in Kisumu's Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium on Friday afternoon.
It was a tightly-contested first-half encounter with no team really managing to create chances in each others’ half, with the only two clear-cut opportunities coming in the 14th and 16th minute.
Humphrey Aroko should have put Stars into the lead when Baron Ochieng sent a bullet throw towards the path of Collins Okou, who laid it off to Aroko, but the Kariobangi Sharks forward could only hit the ball straight at the keeper (14th minute)
Louie Ingavi nearly made it two moments later when Aroko sent a clever chipped pass over the top towards him, but he was flagged offside.
In the 38th minute, Ingavi missed another good opportunity when Siphas Owuor flicked a ball onto his path from a header but shot the ball well wide off-target.
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Stars’ head coach Salim Babu then opted to make two changes to the side in the 40th minute, subbing off Aroko for Aldrine Kibet, who had started the game on the bench alongside fellow star winger Tyrone Kariuki, as well as bringing on Lucas Kingu.
Kungu nearly scored a screamer in the 44th minute when he attempted a shot from outside the box into the back of the net but it went just over the bar.
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In the second half, Aldrine Kibet found himself with acres of space on the edge of the area but his shot went wide off target (47 th).
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12:32 - 08.12.2023
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In the 53rd minute, another chance went begging when Owuor failed to capitalise on a dangerous ball sent in by substitute Tyrone Kariuki from the right flank which caused confusion in the Uganda penalty box area before keeper Abdu Magada scrambled it to safety.
Kenya finally broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when Owuor teared down the middle after Ibrahim Wanzala delivered a good long ball over the top towards him before he hit a right footed shot into the back of the net to send Kisumu Stadium into raptures.
Owuor nearly made it two in the 71st minute when Wanzala hit another excellent drop kick towards Louis Ingavi before both players exchanged neat passes and then Owuor hit it just wide of the post.
Kibet missed another chance in the 76th minute when Owuor showed great center forward play by holding up the ball and then assessing his options before laying it onto the path of Kibet who hit wide.
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Uganda however restored parity against the run of play through Batiibe Okello when a freekick whipped in was not well cleared by Stars, before he tapped the ball home to shush the ecstatic Kenyan crowd. The goal forced the game to go to extra time.
Uganda went ahead yet again right at the start of extra time to stun Kenya even further. Substitute Alex Yiga dribbled past Collins Ochieng down the right flank before sending a low cross that Okello got on the end of forcing Okello to make a save, before Hakim Mutebi capitalised on the rebound to put them ahead.
Uganda went ahead yet again right at the start of extra time to stun Kenya even further. Substitute Alex Yiga dribbled past Collins Ochieng down the right flank before sending a low cross that Okello got on the end of forcing Okello to make a save, before Hakim Mutebi capitalised on the rebound to put them ahead.
Stars tried to huff and puff in efforts to restore parity but could not find a way to equalise. Uganda opted to deploy time wasting tactics for the remainder of the match. Frustrated Kenya fans then started leaving the field one by one as hopes of restoring parity quickly died.
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