Kenya’s Rising Stars Begin Final Preparations in Cairo Ahead of CAF U-20 AFCON Debut
Cairo, The Gulf Observer: Kenya’s national Under-20 football team, the Rising Stars, held a light training session on Monday morning in Cairo, as they fine-tune preparations for their debut appearance at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025.
Under the guidance of head coach Salim Babu, the 26-man squad is bracing for a tough challenge after being placed in Group B — widely labeled as the “group of death” — alongside seven-time champions Nigeria, 1997 champions Morocco, and Tunisia.
Originally, the Rising Stars were scheduled for a one-week training camp in Morocco. However, due to logistical constraints, the Football Kenya Federation opted to fly the team directly from Nairobi to Cairo.
The squad, which had been camping in Nairobi for a month, received a late but welcome boost with the arrival of captain Amos Wanjala, a towering defender who features for Athletic Club Torrellano in Spain’s sixth division. Wanjala was granted additional time to complete crucial club matches before joining the national team.
Key players to watch in Kenya’s squad include assistant captain Baron Ochieng, Manzur Okwaro, Kelly Madada, Hassan Beja, Mark Shaban, and Aldrine Kibet — all of whom have shown impressive form during training.
Despite being considered underdogs, the players remain optimistic. “We have had good preparations in training. The intensity has been going up every day, and so has our confidence — and we are good to go,” said assistant captain Ochieng.
Kenya will kick off its campaign against Morocco on Thursday, 1st May 2025, at 10:00 p.m. at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. The Rising Stars will then face Tunisia on Sunday, 4th May, at 7:00 p.m., before concluding the group stage against Nigeria on Wednesday, 7th May, also at 7:00 p.m., at the same venue.
Assistant coach Anthony Akhulia voiced confidence in the squad’s preparations, emphasizing the importance of a strong start. “Winning our first match is important, as it will give us morale for the remaining matches. We are focused and have strategies tailored for each opponent,” he said.
The top two teams in each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. The four semi-finalists will earn automatic qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup, scheduled for Chile in 2025.
