Junior Stars side suffered heartbreaking disappointment today after losing their crucial third-place playoff 3-0 against Ethipoia, ending their quest for a place at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The result means hosts Ethiopia sealed the final CECAFA qualification spot, leaving the Kenyan youngsters grounded after a high-stakes regional tournament.

The CECAFA U-17 Zonal Qualifiers, held in Addis Ababa, saw both teams fighting for the region’s last ticket to the continental showpiece, which goes to the bronze medal winner.

Earlier, Uganda and Tanzania had already secured their AFCON spots by reaching the final.

For the Junior Stars, the playoff followed a tough 3-1 semi-final loss to a strong Tanzanian side, which dashed their automatic qualification hopes.

The match against Ethiopia presented a final chance at redemption, one the team, led by coach William Muluya, was determined to take.

Unfortunately for Kenyan football fans, the hosts proved too strong in the decider. Though the exact final score is yet to be widely circulated, the outcome is clear: Ethiopia claimed third place, grabbing the coveted AFCON berth.

This marks a painful exit for the Junior Stars, who had shown promise in the group stages, navigating tough fixtures against Somalia, Rwanda, and South Sudan.

The narrow loss, however, underscores the tough competition within the East African region. The focus now shifts to developing this young squad and preparing them for future tournaments as they look to build on the foundation laid during this qualification campaign.

Uganda and Tanzania will now contest the CECAFA final later today, having successfully secured their places in Morocco.