The opening chapter of the Kenya U17 vs Somalia – 2026 AFCON Qualifier delivered a gripping 1-1 draw at Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, a result that both steadies Kenyan nerves and underlines Somalia’s growing resilience in the CECAFA pathway to the continental showpiece.
Kenya’s Junior Stars, guided by head coach William Muluya, began their Group A journey with clear ambition, facing a Somali side that had already shaken off early jitters with a 2-2 comeback against South Sudan. The contest felt like a stern examination, the kind of opening-day test that can define a campaign’s tone and tempo.
There was purpose in the Kenyan camp long before kickoff, from the coach’s call for a fast start to the calm confidence of the players. Somalia arrived sharper after their first outing, and that edge was evident in the opening exchanges as both teams wrestled for control.
How the match unfolded
Somalia settled quickly and thought they had struck first during the opening ten minutes, only for an early effort to be ruled out. The scare snapped Kenya into gear, and soon the Junior Stars were carving out half chances down the left through Nicholas Ochola, a lively outlet who repeatedly stretched the back line.
The first notable flashpoint arrived around the 20th minute when Somalia’s Abdiqafar Abdullahi went down in the box under pressure. The referee waved play on, a decision that drew animated protests from Somali players and a charged response from the stands, a reminder of the high stakes and the fevered atmosphere in Addis Ababa.
Kenya’s reward came on the half hour, crafted with precision from a short corner routine. Ochola rolled the ball to Georgian Omondi on the edge of the area and the midfielder spun past his marker before placing a measured finish into the bottom right corner, a composed strike that reflected the Junior Stars’ growing grip on midfield.
The goal buoyed Kenya and they pushed for a second through Derrick Wanyonyi and others, yet Somalia stayed stubborn and dangerous on the break. The interval arrived with Kenya in front, but the game remained delicately poised, a contest that felt one moment of quality away from tilting either way.
Somalia returned from the break rejuvenated and they found their equaliser in the 56th minute, a swift move that released a long pass beyond the Kenyan high line and into the stride of captain Anas Mohamed. He showed admirable calm, sliding his finish past goalkeeper William Owino to square the ledger and silence the Kenyan momentum.
From there the match swayed like a pendulum. Kenya poured forward, Wanyonyi forced a near post save, and Brighton Nacheri snapped a chance wide inside the six yard box. Somalia offered their own warning when a Mohamed Ali strike was ruled offside in the 74th minute, a close shave that underlined how fine the margins had become.
As fatigue set in, character took center stage. The Kenyan back line, with Julius Buong throwing himself into crucial blocks, kept the contest level, while the Somali midfield pressed and probed for a late winner. At full time the draw felt hard earned for both, a scoreboard that told the story of two youthful teams refusing to blink.
The atmosphere and the message of resilience
There was an edge to this tie that went beyond tactics, a crackle in the crowd that demanded maturity from teenagers in a pressure cooker setting. Kenya were pushed to their limits early, kept their nerve after the disallowed scare, then answered the game’s most difficult questions with compact defending and quick transitions.
Somalia’s response was equally instructive. They absorbed the blow of conceding first, adjusted their build up to beat Kenya’s press, and trusted their captain at the decisive moment. In a tournament where growth is often measured in in game adaptation, both sides left with lessons they can build on.
Tactical notes and young standouts
Kenya’s first half improvement owed much to the balance in midfield, where Armstrong Omondi’s leadership and distribution provided a steady platform. The short corner that unlocked the opener showed rehearsed detail, with Ochola’s delivery and Georgian Omondi’s first touch highlighting a team comfortable with set piece variety.
The equaliser they conceded will be a teaching clip, a reminder that a high line demands perfect timing and coordination. Somalia’s quick release behind Kenya’s shape, followed by the composed finish from Anas Mohamed, was a textbook example of exploiting space against an aggressive press.
Individually, Kenyan forward movement through Ochola gave consistent width, while Derrick Wanyonyi found pockets that produced shots and second balls. At the back, Julius Buong’s key block in the first half preserved the lead, the kind of intervention that often gets lost in the box score but means everything to the rhythm of a young back four.
The human thread in Kenya’s lineup
There is a notable blend in this Junior Stars group, a mix of school and academy talent knitted into a collective by William Muluya. Goalkeeper William Owino hails from Kibabii High School, the defence features the likes of Raphael Omondi and Nevil Wafula, and the core includes Kakamega High School graduates who carry a proud tradition of nurturing footballers.
Up front and in wide areas there is club seasoning through Kariobangi Sharks FC and the Green Commandos, as well as youthful firepower from Premier Academy. It is a squad built for learning moments like this one, where the result matters, but the experience matters even more for what lies ahead in the group.
What the draw means for Group A
This point keeps Kenya well within range in a five team Group A that also includes Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Sudan. The hosts signalled intent with a 2-0 win over Rwanda earlier, and Somalia had already shown their grit by salvaging a 2-2 draw with South Sudan in their opener.
Kenya’s path is clear. Rwanda are up next at the same venue on Friday 21 November from 1300 hours, followed by South Sudan on 24 November, then a potentially decisive finale against Ethiopia on 27 November. In a format where consistency is king, momentum from game to game can make the difference.
There is an added incentive baked into the standings, with a top three finish guaranteeing a ticket to next year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations. The margins are tight, but the math is straightforward, collect points now, arrive at the final day with destiny in your own hands.
| CASINO | BONUS | INFO | RATING | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
bonus
Bonus on 1st deposit: Free Bet up to 10,000 KES
See 3 Bonuses
|
info
BCLB 0000794 Licensed betting platform with a variety of bonuses and high odds |
|
||
|
bonus
Claim weekly freebet codes on Telegram!
See 4 Bonuses
|
info
6,000+ casino games, renowned providers, mobile-optimized gamesBK 0000761, PG 0000461 |
|
||
|
bonus
Win Ksh 30,000 daily in Aviator tournament!
See 7 Bonuses
|
info
20+ software providers, Aviator+ other crash games, BK 0000671 PG 0000428 |
|
||
|
bonus
Exciting deposit bonuses and free spins await!
See 3 Bonuses
|
info
Curacao OGL/2024/507/0541 Wide Range of casino games |
|
The starting XIs
Kenya started with William Owino, Raphael Omondi, Julius Buong, Nevil Wafula, Nicholas Ochola, Armstrong Omondi, Nathan Achola, Brighton Nacheri, Georgian Omondi, Derrick Wanyonyi, and Cosmas Masitsa. The bench included options across the pitch, a reflection of a group assembled from schools and academies around the country with the aim of sustaining intensity across the qualifiers.
Somalia lined up with Mohamed Ali, Muridi Abdi, Abdirahman Mohamud, Abdiqafar Abdullahi, Bilal Yusuf, Mohamed Mohamed, Anas Mohamed, Abdalla Abdirahman, Ahmed Ige, Ashraf Mohamud, and Ahmed Ahmed. The cohesion from their first match carried into this performance, especially in the second half when they found renewed rhythm.
What they said
On the eve of the match, both camps set the tone in ways that foreshadowed a competitive thriller. Kenya’s coach emphasised urgency, while team leaders spoke to unity and purpose, and Somalia’s technical bench stressed adjustment and belief after their opening draw.
In such a tournament a team needs to start with a good result and that is our target when we face Somalia.
William Muluya, Kenya head coach
The mood in the camp is positive. We have prepared well and every player wants the best for the team.
Armstrong Omondi, Kenya assistant captain
We have tried to correct some mistakes that happened in the first match and we are determined to play better in the match against Kenya.
Daadir Amin Ali, Somalia head coach
Key takeaways
- Kenya showed patience and pattern in attack, with a rehearsed short corner unlocking the opener and several second half chances that forced saves,
- Somalia’s in game adjustment, especially the timing of their runs behind a high line, turned the tide and delivered a composed equaliser,
- Both sides leave with belief, Kenya with a platform to build momentum before facing Rwanda, and Somalia with back to back draws that keep them in the mix.
What comes next for Kenya U17
The immediate task is recovery and refinement before Rwanda. The structure and chance creation were encouraging, and the pressing triggers worked for long stretches. The adjustment will be about managing space behind the line and sharpening decision making in the final third.
In group stages, rhythm can be as valuable as any tactical wrinkle. If Kenya carry forward the composure that produced Georgian Omondi’s finish and add a touch more accuracy to late game chances, the win they craved on opening day may not be far away.
On a night that asked for poise, the Junior Stars found enough to steady themselves, and that is often the first step in a successful tournament march. A point on day one does not define a campaign, but it can define a mindset, one that prioritises clarity, patience, and the courage to keep playing, even when the storm swirls loudest.
