The Rising Stars will be taking part for the first time in the tournament, which was previously known as the African Youth Championship and the African U20 Championship. The tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for nations consisting of players under the age of 20, also serves as the African qualification tournament for the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Kenya secured a spot in the tournament after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Burundi in the semi-finals of the U20 AFCON CECAFA Qualifiers on October 18th, 2024. During the fixture, Kenya produced a superb second half with Lawrence Okoth opening the scoring in the 52nd minute, setting the stage for an explosive performance by Kenya.
Hassan Beja doubled the lead with a clinical finish in the 66th minute, followed shortly by Aldrine Kibet, who made it 3-0 in the 69th minute. Louise Ingavi capped off the match with a stoppage-time goal in the 90+4 minute, sealing a comprehensive win for the Rising Stars, and made history by qualifying for the U20 AFCON for the first time.
During the qualifiers, Kenya remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, boasting an impressive record of four wins and one draw, with 14 goals scored and only one conceded. The qualification was a major milestone for the country’s youth football development, giving the Rising Stars the opportunity to compete on a continental stage and showcase their talent against Africa’s best.
Kenya will be underdogs but are on a mission
According to Babu, who currently handles Kenyan Premier League outfit Nairobi City Stars, the Rising Stars will head into the tournament as underdogs, but they will leave no stone unturned in their quest to qualify from the group stage.
Kenya have been drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Senegal, Zambia and Sierra Leone. Group A comprises Central African Republic, DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and Ivory Coast, while Group B will consist of Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco.
Congo were suspended on February 6th, 2025 due to government interference in FECAFOOT operations, and Congo were not included in the draw. After the draw, the Central African Republic were named as replacements on March 22nd, 2025.
“Kenya is in a group, if we do what is required from us, it will be easier to navigate, it is not a difficult group, and it is not an easy group like many people are insinuating, we have to do our best and when we go there, we must have a plan on why we are playing in the tournament, we must know what we are looking for, and what we want to achieve,” Babu told Flashscore.
“While everybody knows Kenya has never been at this stage before, we will definitely go into the tournament as underdogs, but we know ourselves better, we know the kind of quality we have in the team, we know the kind of players we have in the squad, and we know what we want, and where we want to go.”
Babu, who won the domestic FKF Cup with Kenya Police FC last season to earn a CAF Confederation Cup participation, continued: “So, definitely in the group stage, if we win our first and second match, we are in the quarters, and that is our main target, it is our plan, nothing else, we want to be in the quarters, we want to get out of the group, nothing will be spared until we achieve the goal.”
Discussing the team’s readiness, Babu explained: “We have had good preparations, we have had at least one week (of training), since we resumed residential camp on Monday, and from the look of things, the team is ready, the players are ready, to take on the best in Africa.
“If you have a close look, the training as been superb for every player, and each and every player wants a spot to play in the AFCON for the first time, but what impresses me most is players’ desire to play and wear the national team jersey, it makes me confident that we have a good and determined squad ready to bring joy to Kenyans.”
Babu further revealed that five players among them Aldrine Kibet, who is based in Spain, are yet to report to camp but hinted that their rival will strengthen the squad as they prepare for the tournament, whose four semi-finalists, will also qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
“We are expecting other players to join in, Amos (Wanjala) and Kibet, we currently have at least five players, who have not reported to camp, but when they arrive, then the team will complete and roaring to go, but for those already in camp, everything is moving on well,” offered Babu.
Babu further praised the presence of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice-President MacDonald Mariga, who has been attending the team’s training sessions since they reported to camp to motivate the players.
“On behalf of the players and the entire team, I want to thank FKF and Vice-President Mariga, who has been around, he has been in camp since we started this journey, and his presence has been a huge boost to the players, who are looking upon him, they know what he managed to achieve during his playing career and this can motivate them.”
Babu concluded: “I know Kenyans are following and expecting a lot from us, being the first time we are playing at this stage in the AFCON, but my message to them is we will not let them down, because to be honest, we have prepared well, and we know where we want to go and what we want to achieve, so my message is clear, we will not exit at the group stage, we will go far, and they should keep praying for us.”
Kenya not going as tourists but to bring trophy
Babu’s sentiments were echoed by team captain Baron Ochieng, who said their mission was to return home with the AFCON trophy.
“We have been progressing well, and if you can see, we have been gelling together, and that makes a good team if we are gelling together,” said Ochieng.
On Kenya’s group, Ochieng, who features for Sofapaka in the FKF Premier League said: “If you follow keenly, we have been performing well, we have been in a good form and if you check again, most of the players (in the squad), we have been together for a long period of time, we played together as U18 in 2023, and it is the same team now, so it means we understand each other well.”
Ochieng continued: “We are not just going to participate in that group, we are not going for a tourist visit, we are going for the title, and this is the message that Kenyans need to know, and in that group there is nothing difficult, Senegal, we have played them before, even the senior team and we always get a good result from them.”
CAF to pick host nation after Ivory Coast withdrawal
The host country for the final stage of the edition was decided at the annual 2024 CAF Executive Committee meeting and CAF Awards in Marrakesh, Morocco, on December 16th, 2024, with CAF appointing Ivory Coast as hosts.
However, on Tuesday, March 26th, 2025, it was announced that Ivory Coast had withdrawn as hosts, also forfeiting their automatic qualification spot, but the new host country was not immediately announced.
