Nairobi United playmaker Kevin Wangaya says he is fueled by a daily AFCON 2027 alarm after being crowned the SportPesa League Player of the Month for April 2026.
The rising star, who joined the top-flight side just three months ago, has made an immediate impact, becoming the second-youngest player to ever bag the individual award after rising stars teammate Humphrey Aroko.
Fresh from being crowned the SportPesa League Player of the Month for April, Wangaya received his trophy and a KSh 50,000 prize at the Jamhuri High School grounds on Friday morning.
READ MORE: Nairobi United’s Kevin Wangaya crowned April 2026 SportPesa League Player of the Month
Kevin Wangaya sets sights on AFCON 2027 after April Player of the Month heroics
While the award celebrates his immediate impact in the league, the playmaker revealed that his true motivation greets him every single morning before he even hits the training pitch.
“I have an alarm in the morning that always shows up and tells me, ‘AFCON is next year,’” Wangaya shared during an emotional reflection on his first individual professional award in the Sportpesa League “It has been a goal for me. I’ll just keep my head down, pray for strength, and keep working. Once I do that, the rest will come from the coach, but I’m ready.”
Wangaya’s rise to the top of the April charts was fueled by a clinical streak that saw him score early opening goals in three different matches.
His April was defined by his clinical approach, where he netted opening goals in three separate matches against Mathare,Mara Sugar and Posta Rangers.
“It’s how you prepare yourself mentally,” he said of his habit of scoring early. “You have to work hard to get results. For me, the secret is just working hard and putting God first.”
The former Laiser Hill and Kenya U20 star was quick to deflect individual praise, dedicating the win to his teammates, the technical bench, and his family. He also shared a special dedication to the Lord’s House of Hope children’s home.
Wangaya is the second Kenya U20 player to bag the award after Humphrey Aroko in February ,a trend he believes signals a shift in the Kenyan football landscape.
“The young players are stepping up and proving that we need chances to play in the Premier League,” Wangaya noted. “I even voted for Aroko last month because he was having such a great run. It’s good to see people you played with in the national team performing well. I want to encourage other young players to keep working; it’s not easy, but we are showing it can be done.
To secure the award, the Nairobi United midfielder beat out a shortlist that included his own teammate, Michael Karamor, as well as APS Bomet’s defender Edward Masembe and Kenya Police FC shot-stopper Daniel Ogembo.