Kenya U17 bows out of Africa Youth Championships against Cameroon

U17 Harambee Stars-Standing From Left: Eric Muriithi, John Njuguna, Muthoka Maingi, Clinton Oseko, Prince Boit, Goalkeeper Ahmed Musa, Front- Kenneth Mukuria, Daniel Wambua, Mathew Mwendwa, William Mutuku and Biron Otieno during friendly match with Patriots FC at Nyayo National Stadium on Tuesday, August 16, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Kenya bowed out of the Africa Youth Championships on a 9-1 goal aggregate against Cameroon after they lost 2-1 to the visitors at Kasarani Stadium yesterday.

The West Africans came into the match with an impressive 7-0 goal aggregate from the first leg giving their opponents an up-hill task in the return match.

There was some respite in the Kenyan bench when Eric Mbugua scored the first goal for the home team in the 30th minute. Kenya hung onto that lead for a good part of the match but never looked like they could score any more goals.

Their opponents were quite dominant in most parts of the field and also enjoyed a height advantage.
After coming close on several occasions Stephen Thiery leveled for Cameroon in the 75th minute with a powerful shot before adding another one later in the game to ensured thier side maintained a good goal aggregate.

It was the end of the road for the national Under-17 team which has been in camp for more than one month.

The team was assembled in July after countrywide trials and is viewed as the side that will form the back bone of reviving the country’s dwindling football standards.

The team’s first assignment was the Cosafa Under-17 tournament held in Mauritius. Though the team reached the semi-finals they just won one match and conceded more than ten goals.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Technical Director Andrea Spiers has however defended the performance of the team insisting they need more time to start performing well.

Elsewhere, Kakamega Homeboyz whipped Chemili Sugar 3-0 in the on-going Kenyan Premier League (KPL) under-20 tournament at Camp Toyoyo Stadium.

Goals from Dennis Odhiambo and Bryan Munyendo who scored a double ensured that Homeboyz made it to the last four.

The winners were always dangerous and dominated the opening minutes of the match.

Dennis Odhiambo and Faraj Ominde were very dangerous upfront for Homeboyz who are handled by Gilbert Selebwa as they constantly found gaps in the Stima backline.

After dominating a good part of the first half Homeboyz were rewarded with five minutes to the break when Odhiambo netted home the opener after being put through by Bakari Juma.

Despite their efforts to come back into the match, Stima failed miserably as Homeboyz took the match

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