The Salim Babu-coached U20 Kenyan national football team, the Rising Stars, is preparing for a significant challenge as they gear up to compete in the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Drawn in Group C alongside Senegal, Zambia, and Sierra Leone, the team will be looking to make an impact on the continental stage.
The tournament is set to begin on April 26, with hosts Ivory Coast facing Ghana in the opening match. Kenya will kick off their campaign a few days later, on May 1, against Sierra Leone at Bouake Stadium. Their journey in the group stage will continue on May 4 against Zambia, before concluding with a tough match against Senegal on May 7.
With only two teams from each group guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams, every match will be crucial for Kenya’s chances of advancing. The competition features 13 teams fighting for the continental title and an opportunity to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will take place later this year in Chile.
Beyond the hunt for the AFCON title, the four semi-finalists will automatically book their place in the U-20 World Cup. This adds an extra layer of motivation for the Rising Stars, who are aiming to make history with a qualification for the global tournament.
The team has been in a training camp since February 28 under the leadership of head coach Salim Babu. The former Kenya Police FC tactician guided the team to a runner-up finish in the 2024 U20 CECAFA tournament, which also served as the qualifiers for AFCON U20. Despite falling short in the final with a 2-1 loss to Tanzania, Kenya still secured a place in the upcoming tournament in Ivory Coast.
Babu is expected to announce his final squad in the coming weeks. He has previously expressed optimism about securing a historic World Cup qualification. In an earlier statement, he revealed that the technical bench had been assessing over 40 players from Nairobi, with plans to expand the selection pool to include players from clubs like Shabana and Bandari, as well as other regions.
The squad has been undergoing intensive preparations, ensuring they will be in peak condition when they take on Sierra Leone in their opening match. With the tournament fast approaching, Babu will be relying on his young players to rise to the occasion and deliver strong performances that could see Kenya advance beyond the group stage.
As the team continues with their preparations, fans and football enthusiasts will be keenly watching to see if the Rising Stars can secure a spot in the U-20 World Cup for the first time in history.
