Kenya U17 defender Julius Ochieng in action during their first match against Somalia/HANDOUT The Kenya Under-17 head coach, William Muluya, praised his side’s resilience after they came from behind to beat Rwanda at the CECAFA U17 AFCON qualifiers in Ethiopia on Friday.
Kenya conceded early at the Abebe Bikila Stadium but recovered to move to four points from their opening two matches.
“It was a challenging encounter, but I am immensely proud of the boys for the way they responded under pressure,” Muluya said. “They showed determination and composure, and I hope we can carry this momentum into our next fixture.”
The first half offered few chances, though Kenya suffered a setback when their goalkeeper required treatment after a 27th-minute collision.
Rwanda struck first in the 35th minute when Daniel Mugunga slipped a pass to Kandu Gustave, whose cutback was finished by Oliver Nshimiyimana.
“Conceding early in tournaments is always difficult,” Muluya reflected. “The key is how the team responds, and I was confident the players had the resilience to recover.”
At the break, Muluya introduced Nicholas Ochola to inject creativity. The change proved decisive. Kenya equalised on the hour when Armstrong Omondi’s cross deflected off a defender, allowing Ochola to pounce.
“Bringing Ochola on was deliberate. We needed pace and sharpness in the final third,” the coach said. “He read the game well and delivered when it mattered.”
Kenya maintained the pressure and took the lead in the 77th minute.
Ochola turned provider, surging down the right before sending in a low delivery that Trevor Nasasiro tucked away. Muluya hailed the move as evidence of improved cohesion.
“Trevor’s finish was clinical, but it was a team effort. Nicholas’s assist reflected his understanding of the game.”
Kenya created further chances, including a late near-miss, but held firm. Muluya emphasised the developmental value of the performance.
“We are seeing growth in our players’ decision-making and composure. Coming from behind to win demonstrates character and mental resilience. This squad is developing the balance needed to compete at this level.”
Kenya now turn their attention to Monday’s match against South Sudan, with Muluya calling for “focus, discipline, teamwork and intensity”.
