Kenya U20 fixtures, playing times in AFCON CECAFA qualifiers

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Kenya U20 fixtures, playing times in AFCON CECAFA qualifiers

Saturday 05th October, 2024 03:52 PM| By Amanga Collins

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Kenya U20 will begin their Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA qualifiers campaign with a clash against Tanzania on Sunday at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Coach Salim Babu’s side is set to face the Tanzanians at 4:00 p.m. East African Time, as they aim to start their qualification bid on a strong note.

Kenya U20 2nd fixture

Kenya’s second fixture is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, where they will take on Rwanda at 4:00 p.m., also at the KMC Stadium.

Baron Ochieng in action for the Kenya U20 Rising Stars in a friendly match against the Tusker FC Youth Team. PHOTO/FKF

The team will then face Djibouti on Sunday, October 13, at the same venue and time, before wrapping up their group stage matches with a crucial encounter against Sudan on October 15.

Defending CECAFA champions Uganda, who clinched the 2022 title in Khartoum, have been placed in Group B alongside South Sudan, Burundi, and Ethiopia.

The matches will be held across three venues in Dar es Salaam: the Azam Complex, KMC Stadium, and Major General Isamuhyo Stadium. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, and the finalists will earn a spot in the 2025 AFCON U20 tournament.

This tournament also serves as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, with the top four teams securing a place at the global event in Chile.

Kenya’s U20 squad features 11 players who competed in the 2023 CECAFA U18 Boys Championship, including standout names such as Amos Wanjala, Tyron Kariuki, Aldrine Kibet, and Ibrahim Wanzala. Hassan Beja and William Gitamu also earned their spots after featuring in the 2024 COSAFA tournament.

Making their national team debut are new faces Kelly Madada, Lawrence Okoth, Jackson Imbiakha, Phabian Sheldon, and Rodgers Obusu.

The host country for the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations will be announced during the CAF General Assembly on October 10, 2024, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.