- Rising Stars head coach Salim Babu has named a strong provisional squad ahead of the 2025 AFCON U20 tournament.
- The squad has the likes of Aldrine Kibet, Amos Wanjala, and the AFC Leopards duo of Kelly Madada and Hassan Beja.
- Babu has disclosed that Kenya’s main goal in the tournament is to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Rising Stars head coach Salim Babu has announced a strong provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) U20 tournament.
Babu, who has had immense success with the team in recent months, has included both local and foreign based players.
Coach Babu sticks with familiar guns
Some of the big names in the talented squad include the former St. Anthony’s Kitale High School duo of Aldrine Kibet and Amos Wanjala.
Wanjala, who is celebrating his 20th birthday today, is expected to play an instrumental role in Rising Stars defence.
Kibet and Wanjala have been joined in the provisional squad by several of their teammates who took part in the 2023 CECAFA U18 Championships.
Some of these players include Luis Ingavi, Stanley Wilson, Javan Omondi, and Sofapaka FC defender Baron Ochieng.
Babu has also included a couple of more mature players in the squad that play for different clubs in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL).
The notable ones are AFC Leopards’ pair of Kelly Madada and Hassan Beja as well as Gor Mahia’s Mark Shaban.
It is not yet clear whether Madada, Beja and Shaban will take part in the much awaited Mashemeji Derby that is planned to be staged on Sunday, March 30, at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The Kariobangi Sharks trio of Andreas Odhiambo, Humphrey Aroko and Shabana’s Ezekiel Omuri have also made it to Babu’s squad.
Coach Babu’s charges pooled in a tough group
Kenya has been pooled in Group C alongside West African powerhouse Senegal, former champions Zambia and Sierra Leone.
The AFCON U20 tournament was scheduled to be held between April 26 and May 18 in Ivory Coast.
However, Ivory Coast recently pulled out, leaving the Confederation of African Football (CAF) with the task of finding a new hosting nation.
However, despite the lack of clarity on where the 13-team tournament will be held, CAF has already released the fixtures.
According to those fixtures, Babu’s charges are set to open their campaign against debutants Sierra Leone on May 1.
Rising Stars will then play Zambia on May 4 before battling it out with Senegal in their final Group C tie.
Coach Babu discloses Rising Stars target for 2025 AFCON U20 tournament
Speaking ahead of the showdown, Babu disclosed that their main objective is to qualify for the quarterfinals.
We are going there as underdogs, and our target is to just get out of the group stage and into the quarters.
We have prepared well, and I know we can do well. Kenyans have huge expectations, and I want to assure them we won’t let them down,” he explained.
Should Babu and his Rising Stars squad go all the way to the semifinals, they will book a ticket to the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup that will be held in Chile later this year.
Coach Babu’s provisional squad for 2025 AFCON U20 tournament
Goalkeepers
Wycliford Oduor (Bidco United), Benard Jairo (Kariobangi Sharks), Kevin Oduor (Nairobi United).
Defenders
Joseph Bate (MOFA), Rodgers Wasega (Nairobi City Stars), Manzur Okwaro (KCB), Humphrey Obina (Murang’a Seal), Jackson Sane (Mombasa Elite), Baron Ochieng (Sofapaka), Amos Wanjala (Athletic Club Torrellano), Charles Junior (Sofapaka), Telena Ochieng (Ulinzi Stars).
Midfielders
Emmanuel Osoro (FC Talanta), Tyron Kariuki (KCB), Andreas Odhiambo (Kariobangi Sharks), Stanley Wilson (AIK – Sweden), Kevin Wangaya, Emilio Brian (Ulinzi Stars), Irad Mshindi (KCB), Kelly Madada (AFC Leopards), Zech Obiero (Leyton Orient-England), Mark Shaban (Gor Mahia), Humphrey Aroko (Kariobangi Sharks), Gilbert Abala (Nairobi City Stars), Hassan Beja (AFC Leopards), Ezekiel Omuri (Shabana), Aldrine Kibet (Nastic – Spain), William Gitamu (Bandari), Javan Omondi (Ulinzi Stars), Elly Owande (Al Nasr – UAE), Jeremy Bissau (Brooke House College – Leicester England).
Forwards
Lawrence Ouma (MOFA), Luis Ingavi (Saginaw Valley State – USA), Oliver Machaka (Kakamega Homeboyz), Henry Omollo (Kakamega Homeboyz).
Head Coach
Salim Babu
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