Kenya’s U20 men’s national team, Rising Stars, will not hold a training camp in Morocco ahead of the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced.

In a statement released on Friday, April 18, 2025, FKF confirmed that the team will instead travel directly to Cairo, Egypt, to finalise preparations for their historic AFCON debut.

The federation explained that the decision was informed by a shift in the tournament dynamics after Kenya was drawn into Group B alongside North African giants Morocco and Tunisia, as well as seven-time champions Nigeria.

“The initial plan to hold a training camp in Morocco has been shelved. The adjustment comes after the latest tournament draw placed Kenya in Group B alongside Morocco, Tunisia, and Nigeria—making a pre-tournament stay in Morocco strategically unviable,” FKF noted in the statement.

Kenya U20 itinerary

The Rising Stars will depart for Cairo on Monday, April 21, 2025, and will have just over a week to train in Egypt before kicking off their group stage campaign.

The 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations will run from April 27, 2025, to May 18, 2025, with matches scheduled across three cities: Cairo, Ismailia, and Suez.

Kenya will begin their campaign on Thursday, May 1, 2025, with a clash against Morocco at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.

They will then face Tunisia on Sunday, May 4, 2025, before wrapping up their group stage fixtures against Nigeria on Wednesday, May 7, 2025,—all at the same Cairo venue.

Road to AFCON

This year marks a historic milestone for Kenya’s youth football, as the Rising Stars qualified for the U20 AFCON for the first time in the country’s history.

The qualification came after a remarkable campaign at the CECAFA U20 Championship held in Tanzania in October 2024.

Drawn in a tough group alongside Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan, and Rwanda, Kenya opened their campaign with a victory over the hosts.

They went on to defeat Djibouti and Sudan and secured a draw against Rwanda to top the group unbeaten.

In the semi-finals, the Rising Stars cruised past Burundi with a dominant 4-0 win, sealing a place in the final and a guaranteed slot at the 2025 U20 AFCON.

Despite losing 2-1 to Tanzania in the final, Kenya’s runner-up finish was enough to secure one of CECAFA’s two qualification slots for the continental showpiece.

Rising Stars squad:

Goalkeepers: Kevin Oduor, Wyclifford Oduor, Bernard Jairo

Defenders: Baron Ochieng, Humphrey Obina, Jackson Imbiakha, Joseph Bate, Manzu Okwaro, Amos Wanjala, Talena Ochieng, Collins Ochieng

Midfielders: Kevin Wangaya, Emilio Brian, Irad Mshindi, Mark Shaban, Humphrey Aroko, Aldrine Kibet, Kelly Madada

Forwards: Hassan Beja, Ezekiel Omuri, Elly Owande, William Gitama, Javan Omondi, Lawrence Ouma, Oliver Machaka