The highly anticipated CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U20 CECAFA Qualifiers are set to begin on Sunday, with Kenya’s Rising Stars taking on hosts Tanzania in the tournament opener at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam from 4:00 PM.
The clash between these East African rivals marks the start of a two-week-long tournament, with nine teams competing for a coveted spot in the continental competition.
Kenya’s Rising Stars, placed in Group A alongside Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, and Djibouti, will be looking to make a strong statement against their hosts in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.
Following Kenya’s match, Sudan will face Djibouti at 6:00 PM at the AZAM Complex in another Group A fixture. The tournament, running from October 6 to 20, will feature some of the region’s most promising young talents as they vie for regional supremacy and a place at the continental level.
Speaking ahead of the opener, Rising Stars captain Amos Wanjala expressed confidence in his team’s readiness and familiarity with their opponents.
“We have had very good training, and I believe we are ready for the competition. We know it will be tough because we’ve met some of these teams before, but we are very sure we are going to compete and bring positive results,” said Wanjala.
Wanjala is no stranger to the pressure of CECAFA tournaments, having participated in last year’s U18 competition where Kenya reached the final before losing 2-1 to Uganda. Drawing from that experience, Wanjala acknowledged that Group A will be competitive but is confident that Kenya’s preparations will give them an edge.
“In our group, I believe everyone is coming to compete. Nothing will be easy, but as I said, we’ve been preparing, and we’ll do our best to win,” added the skipper.
Kenya’s head coach, Salim Babu, echoed Wanjala’s sentiments, highlighting the high morale in the camp and the rigorous preparations the team has undergone over the past week.
“The players are motivated, and training has been excellent. We’ve been working on tactics and teamwork, and the boys are eager to get on the pitch. We’re aware of the challenges ahead, but we’re ready to make Kenya proud,” Babu said.
Kenya’s Rising Stars will need to be at their best against a determined Tanzania side, who will be spurred on by the home crowd. Tanzania’s squad, known for their physicality and pace, is expected to pose a serious challenge for the visitors, making this opening match a thrilling contest.
The tournament will see a total of nine teams in action, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Burundi, Djibouti, and Ethiopia. Reigning champions Uganda will begin their title defense tomorrow when they take on Ethiopia, while South Sudan, runners-up in 2022, will open their Group B campaign against Burundi at the KMC Stadium.
Tanzania will return to action on October 8 when they face Djibouti, while Sudan will take on Rwanda on the same day in another Group A encounter. With every match crucial, the next two weeks in Dar es Salaam are set to showcase the best young footballing talent from the region.
As the tournament kicks off, Kenya’s Rising Stars are determined to make a lasting impression, beginning with their crucial opener against Tanzania. All eyes will be on the KMC Stadium as these two regional powerhouses face off in a match that could set the tone for the rest of the competition.
AFCON U20 CECEFA Qualifiers
Group A:
1. Sudan vs Djibouti – 06/10/2024, 18:00, Azam Complex
2. Tanzania vs Kenya – 06/10/2024, 16:00, KMC Stadium
Group B: 3. South Sudan vs Burundi – 07/10/2024, 16:00, KMC Stadium
4. Uganda vs Ethiopia – 07/10/2024, 18:00, Azam Complex
Group A: 5. Tanzania vs Djibouti – 08/10/2024, 16:00, KMC Stadium
6. Sudan vs Rwanda – 08/10/2024, 18:00, Azam Complex
Group B: 7. Uganda vs Burundi – 09/10/2024, 16:00, KMC Stadium
8. South Sudan vs Ethiopia – 09/10/2024, 18:00, Azam Complex
Group A: 9. Rwanda vs Kenya – 10/10/2024, 16:00, KMC Stadium
10. Tanzania vs Sudan – 10/10/2024, 18:00, Azam Complex
Group B: 11. Burundi vs Ethiopia – 11/10/2024, 16:00, KMC Stadium
12. Uganda vs South Sudan – 11/10/2024, 18:00, KMC Stadium
Group A: 13. Djibouti vs Kenya – 13/10/2024, 16:00, KMC Stadium
14. Tanzania vs Rwanda – 13/10/2024, 19:00, Azam Complex
15. Sudan vs Djibouti – 14/10/2024, 14:00, KMC Stadium
Group A: 16. Rwanda vs Djibouti – 15/10/2024, 16:00, KMC Stadium
Semi-finals: 17. Ranked 1 Group B vs Ranked 2 Group A – 18/10/2024, 15:00, KMC Stadium
18. Ranked 1 Group A vs Ranked 2 Group B – 18/10/2024, 19:00, Azam Complex
Third Place Playoff: 19. Loser Match 17 vs Loser Match 18 – 20/10/2024, 12:00, KMC Stadium
Final: 20. Winner Match 17 vs Winner Match 18 – 20/10/2024, 15:00, KMC Stadium
