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 2023 CECAFA U18 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP 

 FINAL RESULT 
Kenya 1-2 Uganda
 THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFF 
Rwanda 1-3 Tanzania
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The curtain came down on an exciting 2023 CECAFA U18 Boys Championship in Kenya's western city of Kisumu on Friday, with Hakim Mutebi scoring an extra-time winner to help Uganda clinch the title at the expense of hosts Kenya.

Exactly 22 days after losing the CECAFA U15 title at home to Zanzibar via a penalty shootout, Uganda ensured history did not repeat itself, as they successfully battled a tough Kenyan side willed on by a massive home backing inside a packed Jomo Kenyatta Stadium.

After trailing just after the hour mark, head coach Morley Byekwaso's boys did not allow the occasion to overwhelm them and their composed approach thereafter gifted them the equalizer not long after, before securing victory in the first minute of extra time to secure the title.

Syphas Owuor had put Kenya ahead in the 66th minute, Charles Okello Batiibwe levelled for Uganda ten minutes later, before SC Villa's Mutebi struck early in extra time for the winner.

To get into Friday's final, Uganda had to edge past Rwanda in the first semifinal while Kenya's Junior Stars needed the heroics of Ibrahim Wanzala in goal and Owuor's composure to beat Tanzania in a nervy penalty shootout after a goalless 120 minutes of feisty football.

All was set for a well poised final that featured the two teams that topped their respective groups: Kenya advanced from Group A on maximum nine points while Uganda topped Group B on six points.

And once the ball got rolling with Rwandan referee Fidele Rurisa's first whistle half an hour before 3pm for the competition's final duel, it was immediately clear it would be a long afternoon under the scorching heat of Kisumu.

Buoyed by an effervescent crowd inside a noisy, filled stadium, the hosts blasted out of the blocks intent on making their mark early on.

But in a game that would evolve into a highly-charged contest, the Ugandans had a huge say in this, as minute by minute, it turned into as much a battle of wits as one of youthful physicality.

▪️ Uganda to meet Kenya in CECAFA U18 final

The home side were lifted 14 minutes into the game with Humprey Aroko's dash into the Ugandan box to get on the end of a well-weighted pass, but the young Kariobangi Sharks forward failed to beat Ugandan goalkeeper Abdu Magada, who went low to comfortably gather the tame effort.

Two minutes later, Louise Ingavi kept the early Kenyan momentum going but his attack after brilliant passage of the ball was snuffed out by the offside flag.

On the other end, Morley Byekwaso was forced to make an early substitution when Ugandan captain Louis Amagu Anguti failed to recover after being stretchered off the pitch 17 minutes into the game. His replacement: KCCA's Alex Yiga.

The Ugandans' sleek passing often dazzled the Kenyans, who were forced into desperate defending, but to their credit, the Junior Stars maintained solidity at the back, refusing to be broken by the incessant attacks — also thanks to Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper Wanzala's full alertness in goal.

Travis Mutyaba's nimble feet and nifty trickery often drew minders his way and as a result, got him into sticky situations that got the Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia) midfielder downed and even once needing on-pitch medical attention just before the half-hour mark.

Ten minutes before the break, Kenyan Elly Owande was gifted a chance inside the area but his effort got blocked out for a corner, with the resulting delivery fruitless.

▪️ Uganda beat Rwanda to storm CECAFA U18 final

Uganda were on the receiving end of several freekicks as they pushed their boys forward, but BUL FC Junior Team's Swabir Mpasa was wasteful with his deliveries, which were high and wild, producing no desired effect.

Seven minutes before the break, Kenyan Ingavi had a glorious chance, but the US-based forward blasted wide of the mark when he should have been more precise.

For long periods of the opening half though, it was the Kenyans that absorbed sustained Ugandan pressure under the sweltering heat.

Inevitably, head coach Salim Babu, sensing his side were on the back foot, was forced to make a double substitution five minutes before half time, with Aldrine Kibet coming on for Aroko being one of the changes.

Two minutes before the break, substitute Lucas Kungu's lofted ball teased the home crowd's hopes but it crashed onto the roof of the Ugandan net.

Not long after, on the other end of the pitch, Richard Okello thought he had put Uganda in front with a precise finish but the offside flag was already up to keep the scoreline intact at half time.

Two minutes after the two sides returned from the dressing rooms, Kibet had an opportunity but his effort that flew wide and out did some injustice to his powerful run leading to the wasted chance.

Then, eight minutes into the second half, Magada nearly allowed the sprightly Owour to break the deadlock when he let a deep ball slip through his gloves, but the Ugandan goalkeeper, who plays for Gaddafi FC, swiftly gathered to snuff out the lingering danger.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 66th minute.

Owour, whose winning penalty against Tanzania sent Kenya into the final on Tuesday, raced onto a long goal kick to slot past the Ugandan goalkeeper and elevate the decibels inside the already noisy Jomo Kenyatta Stadium.

Ten minutes later, Kibet should have put the contest to bed, but his low angled effort hurtled out of play, to the agony of the home fans.

Then came the equalizer.

On the other end, the Junior Stars conceded a freekick on the edge of the box.

The delivery into the box caused a defensive mixup, with the ball landing invitingly to Batiibwe, who blasted into the half-guarded net to send deafening silence across the stadium.

The remaining 14 minutes produced no winner and the contest was forced into extra time, with a penalty shootout looming large.

But 50 seconds into extra time, Mutebi banged in the decisive, title-winning goal after teammate Yiga ploughed his way into the Kenyan box to square the ball into the crowded box.

Victory for the Ugandans, who return to Kampala as heroes with the title.

Meanwhile, Tanzania took bronze after beating Rwanda 3-1 in the third-place playoff earlier on Friday.

Uganda's journey to the title

To win the CECAFA U18 championship, Uganda had to recover from a shaky start to their campaign, and did so by steadying their ship with three successive wins to reach the final.

Byekwaso's side started on a losing note, with a 0-1 defeat to Tanzania in Group B. Sharif Wilson scored the lone goal.

Three days later, Uganda edged Zanzibar to register their first win. Travis Mutyaba gave the Ugandans the lead but his first-half goal was cancelled out by Moh'd Ali Moh'd's strike just before the break.

A Zanzibari own goal in the second half was the difference.

▪️ Uganda face Rwanda, hosts Kenya meet Tanzania

Uganda faced South Sudan in their final group game, and came out 2-0 winners at the end of 90.

In that one, Richard Okello broke the deadlock just after the hour mark after a goalless first half. Denis Kisiriko came off the bench to score a late winner as Uganda stormed the semis on top of Group A.

Next up, Uganda lined up against Rwanda for the first semifinal of this tournament on Tuesday. Head coach Morley Byekwaso's boys had a dominant opening half but failed to make that superiority count as the Rwandan shackles remained unbroken.

The goal eventually came in the second half through Abubaker Mayanja. And that was it. Uganda into the final to meet hosts Kenya.

▪️ Who will join Kenya and Rwanda in semis?

Come D-day, Uganda had to do the hard work of having to claw back into the game after going behind in the second half following a goalless first half.

They did do the necessary and found the equalizer after falling behind, before finding the winner in extra time to avoid the dreaded penalties knocking on the door.

Uganda's goalscorers

Uganda scored a total of six goals in their five games of the tournament. One of their goals in the 2-1 win over Zanzibar was an own goal. They kept two clean sheets: 2-0 vs South Sudan and 1-0 vs Rwanda.

The goalscorers 👇🏽

- Travis Mutyaba (1) vs Zanzibar
- Richard Okello (1) vs South Sudan
- Dennis Kisiriko (1) vs South Sudan
- Abubaker Mayanja (1) vs Rwanda
- Charles Batiibwe (1) vs Kenya
- Hakim Mutebi (1) vs Kenya

Kenya's goalscorers

Kenya scored 11 goals in their five matches played. They kept three clean sheets, and conceded three goals (4-1 vs Somalia and 1-2 vs Uganda).

The goal scorers 👇🏽

- Louise Ingavi (2) vs Sudan
- Tyron Junior (1) vs Sudan
- Aldrine Kibet (1) vs Sudan, (1) vs Rwanda, (1) vs Somalia
- Elly Owande (1) vs Sudan
- Stanley Omondi (2) vs Somalia
- Humprey Aroko (1) vs Somalia
- Syphas Owour (1) vs Uganda

How the group stage ended

 GROUP A 

 GROUP B 

* Tanzania progressed on fair play grounds