Summary:

• Uganda clinched victory in the 2023 Cecafa Under 18 Boys tournament, coming from behind to beat Kenya 2-1 in extra time with goals from Batiibwe Okello and Hakim Mutebi.

In a thrilling finale at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu on Friday, Uganda staged an impressive comeback to defeat Kenya 2-1 in the 2023 Cecafa Under 18 Boys tournament.

Syphas Owuor opened the scoring for the hosts, but Uganda’s Batiibwe Okello equalized with just 12 minutes remaining, forcing the match into extra time. In a dramatic turn of events, Hakim Mutebi secured the title for the Uganda Cranes juniors by scoring only 50 seconds into the extra period, leaving the packed stadium in astonishment.

Uganda’s head coach, Morley Byekwaso, expressed his joy at the hard-fought victory, acknowledging the formidable challenge posed by the Kenyan team. Byekwaso credited his players’ dedication and hard work for the positive outcome, emphasizing the crucial role they played in securing the championship.

Kenya’s assistant coach, Anthony Akhulia, congratulated the Ugandan team for their victory and acknowledged the failure of his team to maintain momentum after taking the lead. Despite the loss, he commended the opponents, recognizing the unpredictable nature of football.

The first half was tightly contested, with both teams creating limited goal-scoring opportunities. Junior Stars had chances to take the lead, with efforts from Humphrey Aroko and Baron Ochieng, but Ugandan goalkeeper Abdu Magada made crucial saves. The physical Ugandan juniors struggled to break through Kenya’s defense in the first half.

The match remained deadlocked at 1-1 after regular time, and the decisive moment came in extra time when Hakim Mutebi capitalized on a rebound to secure the title for Uganda. The victory showcased the resilience and determination of the Ugandan team, while Kenya’s Junior Stars faced a tough defeat despite their early lead.