NAIROBI, Kenya, June 21, 2026 – Kenya’s Junior Starlets saw their regional title hopes dashed on Sunday afternoon after suffering a tough 3-0 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Uganda in the semi-finals of the CECAFA U17 Women’s Championship.
The high-stakes knockout clash carried an extra layer of drama, following a controversial tournament administrative decision that stripped Kenya of its massive +13 goal advantage from the opening day.
The subsequent table restructuring forced Mildred Cheche’s side down to second place in Group A, setting up this premature East African derby.
The Ugandan side approached the match with immense intensity, heavily motivated by a desire for revenge.
Just last month, it was the Junior Starlets who broke Ugandan hearts by knocking them out of the final rounds of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
On Sunday, Uganda flipped the script.
They caught the Kenyan backline off guard early, firing home two quick goals in the first half to establish a commanding 2-0 cushion going into the interval.
Despite an improved, high-morale performance from the Starlets in the second half as they pushed to salvage the match, the Ugandan defense held firm.
They eventually put the game completely out of reach, capitalizing on a late header from a conner to seal the 3-0 win in the 92nd minute.
With the victory, Uganda advances to the grand finale where they will look to defend their regional title against hosts Tanzania.
While the defeat is a painful pill to swallow, the tournament is not yet over for the Kenyan youngsters.
The Junior Starlets still have one final fixture on the calendar, the third-place playoff match.
Coach Mildred Cheche and her charges will look to rapidly shake off the disappointment, correct their defensive lapses, and ensure they return home to Nairobi with a well-deserved bronze medal to cap off their regional campaign.
