Kenya’s U20 national football team, the Rising Stars, has made history by qualifying for the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Their impressive 4-0 victory over Burundi in the semi-finals of the U20 AFCON CECAFA Qualifiers secured their spot in the prestigious tournament. The win also booked their place in the CECAFA final, where they will face Tanzania.
On Friday, October 18, 2024, the Rising Stars delivered a commanding performance at the semi-final. Despite a goalless first half, where Kenya controlled possession but couldn’t find the back of the net, the second half was a different story. Lawrence Okoth broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute from a sumptuous pass by William Gitamu, notching his second goal of the tournament with a composed finish. Hassan Beja doubled the lead in the 66th minute from a goalkeeper’s rebound, also registering his second goal of the competition.
The floodgates opened further when Aldrine Kibet added a third just three minutes later, bringing his tally to four goals in the tournament. Substitute Louise Ingavi put the game beyond doubt with a stoppage-time goal, scoring in the 90+4 minute to make it 4-0. The Rising Stars celebrated a dominant win that highlighted their attacking prowess and solid team effort with Goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala making it 4 cleansheets in 5 games.
Kenya will now face Tanzania in the final on Sunday, October 20, 2024. The two teams met earlier in the group stage, with Kenya emerging victorious in a hard-fought 2-1 win. Both teams have already qualified for the U20 AFCON, representing the CECAFA region, but the final will decide the regional champions in what promises to be a high-stakes clash.
The U20 side have had an impressive run in the tournament, going unbeaten with four wins and one draw. They have scored 14 goals while conceding just one, showcasing a solid defense and clinical attack. This qualification marks a significant achievement in Kenya’s youth football development and gives the team a chance to compete against the best teams in Africa at the U20 AFCON next year.