Chol Achiek and Dau Akueng were allegedly ambushed while walking home from basketball.

Chol Achiek, 12, and Dau Akueng, 15, were killed walking home from basketball on suburban streets. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Five teenagers accused of murdering two young boys as they walked home from a basketball match have pleaded not guilty.

Mourners honour Cobblebank knife attack victims Dau Akueng and Chol Achiek  - ABC News

Chol Achiek, 12, and Dau Akueng, 15, were allegedly attacked just streets apart at Cobblebank, in Melbourne’s outer northwest on September 6.

The two boys were on their way home from basketball when a group of males set upon them and stabbed them to death.

Seven teenagers charged with murder after stabbing deaths of two boys in  Melbourne | Melbourne | The Guardian

One of the accused appeared in person at a children’s court on Thursday, accompanied by two police officers, while the other four appeared via video link.

One by one, all five boys, aged 15 and 16, formally entered not guilty pleas to the two murder charges.

They were each committed to stand trial in the Victorian Supreme Court.

It comes after co-accused Peter Addo, 19, Abel Sorzor, 19, and Prince Conteh, 20, on Friday also formally entered not guilty pleas in Melbourne Magistrates Court.

All eight accused will face a directions hearing in the Supreme Court later this month.