Emerging Stars survive scare to reach next round of U-23 AFCON qualifiers

Kenya’s national under-23 football team, the Emerging Stars, survived a huge scare in Tanzania before scraping through to the next round of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers 5-4 on aggregate. Leading 4-1 from the first leg in Nairobi, Kenya found themselves 2-0 down within the opening 30 minutes as panic spread through the team. The Emerging Stars looked disjointed, conceding two soft goals in the first half — one from a deflected free kick and another from a harmless cross they failed to deal with. Second-half substitute Andreas Omondi then steadied the ship with a goal to make it 2-1. Tanzania now needed three more goals to overturn the deficit and force extra time. The hosts managed a late penalty and eventually won the match 3-1, but could not find the fourth goal they needed as the Emerging Stars advanced 5-4 on aggregate.