NAIROBI, Kenya, June 17, 2026 – Kenya’s Junior Starlets showed immense resilience to fight back and secure a dramatic 1-1 draw against hosts Tanzania in their final group game of the Cecafa Under 17 Women’s Championships at the KMC Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Following their explosive attacking displays against Sudan and Somalia, Mildred Cheche’s charges faced their toughest test yet at the regional tourney.
The hard-fought result marks the first time the high-flying Starlets have been held to fewer than three goals since the regional competition kicked off.
The highly anticipated East African derby lived up to its billing, with Tanzania asking tough questions of the Kenyan backline from the opening whistle.
Backed by a vocal home crowd, the hosts broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Bahati Kitanguzi found the back of the net, slipping past the Kenyan defense to hand Tanzania a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
The goal marked the first time the Junior Starlets had trailed in the tournament, forcing Cheche to re-evaluate her tactical approach at halftime.
The second half was a tense, end-to-end affair as Kenya pushed hard for an equalizer while keeping their defensive shape secure against dangerous counter-attacks.
With time fast running out and Tanzania looking poised to claim all three points, the Starlets’ persistence finally paid off.
Recent call-up Jael Nanjala stepped up when it mattered most, hitting a dramatic late equalizer to rescue a point and keep the young stars’ unbeaten dream firmly alive.
While the Starlets will be relieved to have salvaged a point away from home, head coach Mildred Cheche will be keen to use the post-match breakdown to iron out the creases.
The technical bench will look to urgently correct the defensive lapses that led to the first-half goal while heavily building on the mental fortitude and fighting spirit the girls displayed to force a comeback.
The Junior Starlets now shift their focus to their upcoming fixture, eager to put the minor setback behind them, fine-tune their tactical execution, and return to their clinical winning ways.
