Kenya’s U-20 national team, the Rising Stars, are preparing for a historic first appearance at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025.

After a commanding qualifying campaign, the East African nation will be looking to carry their momentum into Group B, where they face continental heavyweights Nigeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

The Rising Stars qualified by finishing runners-up at the CECAFA U-20 qualifiers, going unbeaten throughout the tournament and showcasing their attacking flair with 14 goals scored and just one conceded.

A 4-0 win over Burundi in the semi-finals underlined their credentials, and while they fell to Tanzania in the final, their run confirmed Kenya’s emergence as a rising force in youth football.

Led by head coach Salim Babu, the team is built on tactical discipline and quick transitions, blending defensive resilience with pace and creativity in attack.

Kenya enters the tournament as underdogs, but with a confident squad and nothing to lose, they will be eager to make their mark on the continental stage.
Kenya’s U-20 Men’s National Team, known as the Rising Stars, enters the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations with high hopes following an impressive qualifying run.

Their journey to the continental tournament has been marked by resilience and a hunger for success, and the squad is determined to show their potential on the big stage.

HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Kenya secured their spot at the finals by finishing as runners-up in the CECAFA U-20 Qualifiers.

Their road to the finals saw them dominate the competition with a series of excellent performances, including a commanding 4-0 victory over Burundi in the semi-finals.

The Rising Stars went unbeaten throughout the tournament, with four wins and one draw, scoring 14 goals and conceding just one.

Despite falling short in the final to Tanzania, their overall display showed the world that Kenya’s youth football is on the rise.

HISTORY IN  U-20 AFCON
This marks Kenya’s first participation in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 AFCON, with the team eager to make an impact at the continental level.

While the Rising Stars are yet to earn silverware in this age category, their consistent development at youth levels suggests that they will be a formidable force in the competition.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Amos Wanjala – The team captain, Wanjala is a leader both on and off the pitch. His vision and passing ability will be crucial in dictating the tempo of Kenya’s play.
Manzur Okwaro – A solid presence at the back, Okwaro’s leadership and defensive solidity make him one of Kenya’s most reliable players.
Ezekiel Omuri – A dynamic forward, Omuri’s speed and technical ability make him a constant threat in front of goal. His clinical finishing will be vital in their tournament run.

COACH AND TACTICAL APPROACH
The Rising Stars are under the guidance of Salim Babu, the head coach of Nairobi City Stars, who is also overseeing the U-17 and U-18 national teams.

Babu’s approach is built on an organised defensive structure and quick transitions to attack.

His goal is to create a balanced squad capable of controlling possession while also being effective on counterattacks.

The squad’s focus will be on maintaining discipline, creativity in midfield, and clinical finishing in the final third.

TOURNAMENT AMBITIONS AND GROUP ANALYSIS

Kenya has been drawn into Group B, alongside record seven-time champions Nigeria, former champions Tunisia as well as Morocco.

The Rising Stars will have tough encounters across all their group stages and will need to dig deep against their more fancied opponents.

Kenya will need to step up and maintain their unbeaten form to navigate this tough group and progress to the knockout stages.

With a mix of experienced players and young talents, the Rising Stars are focused on making a strong statement at this year’s U-20 AFCON.

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Nigeria’s Flying Eagles still fell into Group B of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations at the new draw conducted in Cairo on Sunday.

In an earlier draw conducted in February when the competition was slated for Cote d’Ivoire, the team was drawn alongside Egypt, Morocco and South Africa in what was tagged a “Group of Death.”

But following a change of hosts and Cote d’Ivoire losing participation rights, a new draw had to be conducted.

Nigeria still fell into the same Group B and almost with the same opponents except for Egypt moving to Group A alongside South Africa and new entrants, Tunisia coming into the group with Kenya.

The Flying Eagles will play their opening match on April 28 against Tunisia.

Hosts Egypt head Group A, which has South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Tanzania, while defending champions Senegal are the top seeds in Group C and are pitched against Central African Republic, DR Congo and Ghana in what now looks like the new ‘Group of Death’.

The opening match will be Egypt up against South Africa on April 27.

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Eighth title-seeking Nigeria U-20 team, the Flying Eagles will get to know their path to new glory when the final draw of the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Cote d’Ivoire 2025 is held on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.

The Flying Eagles have won the title for a record seven times and will be seeking to extend their record to eight when the competition is held in Cote d’Ivoire starting on 26 April and running till 18th May.

Thirteen teams will be on parade and the top four will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup that will be staged in Chile from 27 September-19 October 2025.

At Thursday’s draw, former Mali international ⁠Adama Coulibaly and ex-Senegal star Souleymane Camara will act as draw assistants.

Involved in the draw are hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Morocco.

Others are Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.  The second team representing the Central African Football Federations’ Union (UNIFFAC) will later join.

Format of the tournament

The teams will be divided into three Groups (A, B and C), with Group A containing five teams and Groups B and C four sides each.

Cote d’Ivoire, as the host country, is automatically preassigned to position A1 in Group A.

The remainder of the seeds for each group have been determined via the final placings in the CAF Under-20 AFCON, Egypt 2023.

Holders Senegal take up position C1 and Nigeria, who finished third two years ago, take up position B1.

The identity of the second team from the UNIFFAC Zonal Union is still to be determined following Congo’s FIFA suspension, but the team representing UNIFFAC will be in Pot 1 (Level 2) along with Egypt and Zambia.

The teams in Pot 1 will be drawn into positions A2, B2 and C2.

The top two teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals along with the two best third-placed sides, before the competition continues in a knockout format.

Tournament procedures

The draw will be made using five separate pots:

• Pot 1: Egypt, UNIFFAC 2, Zambia (Level 2 teams)
• Pot 2: Ghana, DR Congo, Kenya, Morocco, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania
• Pot 3: Positions A2, B2 & C2
• Pot 4: Positions A3, B3 & C3
• Pot 5: Positions A4, B4 & C4

Level 2 teams will be drawn to occupy positions A2, B2 and C2. The remaining teams will be drawn to occupy positions A3, B3, C3, A4, B4 and C4. The last remaining team will automatically be placed in A5.

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