Kenya’s Junior Stars completed their Group Z campaign at the inaugural FIFA U-15 Boys World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a 2-2 draw against Niger followed by a 3-2 victory over Chad today.
The results extended Patrick Nyale’s side’s unbeaten run in the opening phase, with Kenya recording three wins and two draws from five matches to finish their group assignments without defeat.
The Junior Stars were first tested by a determined Niger side that took the lead inside the opening minute, forcing Kenya to chase the game from the outset.
Captain Innocent Media restored parity before the break, giving Kenya a foothold in the contest after the early setback.
Niger regained the advantage in the second half, putting the East Africans under renewed pressure. However, Kenya refused to surrender, with Javan Ochieng producing a long-range strike to level the score at 2-2 and earn his side a share of the points.
The draw followed Kenya’s impressive opening victories over Malta and Panama, as well as a 2-2 stalemate against North Macedonia. Having already demonstrated their attacking strength in the earlier matches, the youngsters showed character by recovering twice against Niger.
Kenya returned for their final group fixture against Chad, where they secured a 3-2 victory to close the opening phase on a high.
Innocent Media struck in the first minute to give Kenya an immediate advantage, while Dancan Muyah doubled the lead in the 15th minute.
Silas Juma added a third goal in the 28th minute, putting the Junior Stars in a strong position. Chad fought back to keep the contest alive, but Kenya held on to secure all three points.
The win capped a productive campaign for Nyale’s charges, who opened with a 6-2 victory over Malta before thrashing Panama 5-1. They then drew 2-2 with North Macedonia and Niger before overcoming Chad.
With the group stage complete, Kenya now advance to the tournament’s tier-based knockout phase.
The competition’s unique format ensures that all participating teams continue playing, with nations allocated to six tiers according to their opening-round performances.
