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Six things we learnt from Kenya's CECAFA U-20 AFCON campaign in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania where they managed to seal a ticket to the 2025 tournament despite losing the final 2-1 to the hosts.
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania – The Kenya U-20 national football team, the Rising Stars, narrowly missed out on the CECAFA U-20 AFCON title, falling 2-1 to Tanzania in the final on Sunday afternoon.
Despite their qualification for the U-20 AFCON, the final loss echoed memories of the U-18 Championships in Kisumu last December, where Kenya similarly squandered a lead to lose to Uganda.
Here are six key lessons from the Rising Stars’ journey in the two-week-long tournament:
Kelvin Wangaya is a special talent
Before the tournament started, very few people with a keen interest in Kenyan football knew who Kelvin Wangaya was.
Wangaya was never actually going to be a starter. AIK’s Stanley Wilson was expected to play a key part, as he was included in the final squad set to play in the tournament.
However, he never turned up, with the Swedish giants opting against releasing him as he continues to adapt to life there. However, Wangaya took the chance and showed the special talent that he is as a big breath of fresh air.
He has that ability and willingness to drop deep to receive the ball before driving forward with it. He can carry it dynamically and has that great ability to give defence-splitting passes.
Despite his relatively small frame, he is also good at dealing with his ground duels and can control the tempo. The former Kariobangi Sharks man is going to be super important come the tournament itself, but has shown he has that ability to deliver at this level.
Salim Babu’s charges have an identifiable way of playing
Salim Babu’s charges were a joy to behold with their playing style throughout the tournament.
They were very progressive throughout and were determined to attack at every available opportunity. The wingers, Hassan Beja and William Gitamu, would stretch defences, while Lawrence Okoth would use his strength to hold the ball up as the side’s focal point to create room for Aldrine Kibet to drive with it forward.
Wangaya would drop deep to make himself a passing option, with Andreas Omondi being the midfielder that would then perform the box to box role. At center back, Manzur Suleiman Okwaro and Amos Wanjala stood tall, while the fullbacks, Rodgers Obusu and Baron Ochieng would also do their work diligently bombing up and down the flanks.
They may have fallen short at the final hurdle, but this team could become a problem at the U-20 AFCON.
Aldrine Kibet is a shining light
Aldrine Kibet had a slow start to the tournament but gained momentum as it progressed. He started on the bench against Tanzania in the first clash and remained unused, but came on against Rwanda and looked unstoppable from then on.
He scored four goals and registered an assist during the tournament, and was a joy to behold with his willingness to dribble, retain possession as well as his creativity.
He has been tipped to be one of the biggest players come the U-20 AFCON, and the Spain-Based star will be hoping his exploits finally earn him a move to a first team set up.
Rising Stars need a proper center forward
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08:20 - 21.10.2024
Rising Stars captain Amos Wanjala confident despite U-20 AFCON-CECAFA qualifiers loss to Tanzania
Tanzania came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory in the final where both teams had already qualified for next year's U-20 AFCON.
Although Lawrence Okoth and Louis Ingavi did well, this tournament showed that the side may still need another center forward that is durable enough to maintain his intensity throughout the 90 minutes.
Louis Ingavi started the first two games but in the end, became an impact sub for the rest of the match. Although he is instinctive, his hold up play may still need work.
Lawrence Okoth showed great center forward play as well as his knack for scoring, but was often tiring in the second half. Given the lack of another profile that could do the same thing (Babu was limited by having a 19 man squad) it became difficult to maintain the same level of intensity or have a proper backup for him.
Ahead of the tournament next year, Babu will be hoping he can scout a player capable of doing that.
The country should prioritise scouting secondary school games for talent
11 of the 20-man squad that took part in the tournament were part of the U-18 squad that played at the CECAFA Boys’ championships in Kisumu last year.
Most of them were high school players, who then got snapped up by other FKFPL & NSL clubs, or secured professional deals abroad.
They showed that high schools have talent in abundance, and scouting networks should extend to these areas in order for the pipeline of players coming through to continue being streamlined, and for the national pool to have a deeper depth. Aldrine Kibet and Amos Wanjala shone for St.Anthony's Boys. Kitale in 2023 and are now key figures at that level.
Kenya must pick lessons from Tanzania
Although the tournament took place at the KMC Stadium in Dar Es Sallam, fans managed to fill it to the brim, and the stadium itself was well maintained, with stands erected across all the four corners of the stadium.
Kenya lacks any stadium of such standards. The Tanzania Football Federation also has a technical center, where all its national team players get to meet and train before international assignments, The side that delivered the title had been training together for five months before the tournament, and as a result, you could see the telepathic understanding they developed on the pitch.
Kenya must borrow such lessons and try to implement in their own football in order to unleash their untapped potential.
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