Kenya’s U17 boys’ national team, the Junior Stars, will begin their hunt for a place at the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in a tough Group A alongside hosts Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Rwanda.

The draw for the zonal qualifiers was conducted on Friday afternoon at the FUFA FM studios in Mengo, Uganda. The tournament will take place in Ethiopia from November 15 to December 2, 2025, with matches scheduled at the Abebe Bikila Stadium and the Dire Dawa Stadium.

The Junior Stars will open their campaign against Somalia before facing Rwanda, South Sudan, and rounding off their group fixtures against hosts Ethiopia. The exact match dates will be confirmed later by CECAFA.

Last year, Kenya endured a disappointing run in the qualifiers held in Uganda, losing both group matches to Uganda and Tanzania.

This year, however, the Junior Stars will be eager to make amends and secure one of the three slots available for CECAFA teams at the continental finals.

Group B set to be based at the Dire Dawa Stadium, features defending champions Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan, and Burundi.

CECAFA Head of Marketing and Communications Andrew Jackson Oryada, who conducted the draw, expressed optimism about the regional competition, saying,

“We are happy that once again we have a platform created by CAF for the youngsters to play international football at zonal level. The best teams qualify for the African level and finally the FIFA U-17 World Cup.”

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the finalists and the third-place winner earning a ticket to the 2026 U17 AFCON.

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