The Kenya U23 squad for the November 2026 AFCON qualifiers includes 39 provisional players selected by head coach Anthony Kimani ahead of the two-legged tie against Côte d’Ivoire. The Football Kenya Federation announced the list on 31 October, with Aldrine Kibet among the notable names returning to the Emerging Stars setup. Here are the selected players, Kenya U23 fixtures, previous results and the route through qualification.
Kenya U23 reached this stage after a 5–4 aggregate victory over Tanzania. The current list is a provisional selection, not a confirmed matchday squad or starting XI, and the team still needs to negotiate two more qualifying rounds to reach the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Kenya U23 fixtures, results and AFCON qualification progress
Kenya U23 fixtures in the second qualifying round are scheduled for 11 and 17 November 2026, after the Emerging Stars eliminated Tanzania in October. Their previous two results and the next two matches show where the national team stands in the 2027 U23 AFCON qualification pathway.
| Date | Match | Round / status | Result or kickoff (EAT) |
| 28 Sep 2026 | Kenya U23 vs Tanzania U23 | First round · Final | Kenya 4–1 Tanzania |
| 6 Oct 2026 | Tanzania U23 vs Kenya U23 | First round · Final | Tanzania 3–1 Kenya |
| 11 Nov 2026 | Kenya U23 vs Côte d’Ivoire U23 | Second round · Scheduled | 3:00 PM · Nyayo National Stadium |
| 17 Nov 2026 | Côte d’Ivoire U23 vs Kenya U23 | Second round · Scheduled | 10:00 PM · Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny |
Kenya advanced from the first round 5–4 on aggregate. The Côte d’Ivoire tie will also be decided across two legs, with its winner progressing to the third and final qualifying round. There is no league standings table for these knockout ties; progress is measured by results and aggregate scores.
For the details behind the previous round, read our Kenya U23 result and comeback against Tanzania. For football fixture information and results across supported competitions, visit SportPesa Score.
Kenya U23 squad 2026: all 39 provisional players
The Kenya U23 provisional squad contains four goalkeepers, ten defenders, twelve midfielders and thirteen forwards. Kimani will select from this larger group for the Côte d’Ivoire matches, so the names below should not be confused with the final starting eleven.
Goalkeepers: Caleb Kramer, Collins Omondi, Kevin Oduor, Bernard Jairo.
Defenders: Ian Omondi, Joseph Bate, Jackson Imbiakha, Robinson Musungu, Collins Ochieng, Baron Ochieng, Price Musebe, Wyclliffe Awiko, Bilal Otieno, Telena Ochieng.
Midfielders: Aldrine Kibet, Kevin Wangaya, Kelly Madada, Andres Odhiambo, Irad Mshindi, Humphrey Aroko, Oliver Majaka, Zachary Nyakwara, Glen Githinji, Ateek Omar, Jack Steel, Mark Kithome.
Forwards: Brooklyn Kazungu, Lawrence Okoth, Paul Osama, Jeremy Bisau, Syphas Otieno, Stephen Omondi, Dan Omalla, Emmanuel Osoro, Collins Okello, Henry Omollo, Colin Akeno, Javan Ochieng, Hassan Beja.
Why Aldrine Kibet and the returning players matter
Aldrine Kibet is one of the headline names in the Kenya U23 squad, adding another option to Kimani’s midfield and attacking selection. The provisional list also includes Humphrey Aroko, Jackson Imbiakha and Mark Kithome, increasing competition for places ahead of two demanding matches.
The broader pool matters because the starting team is not yet confirmed. Decisions on who begins either leg will depend on final availability and the coach’s matchday selection rather than inclusion in the provisional announcement alone.
What Kenya U23 learned from the Tanzania results
Kenya U23 results against Tanzania demonstrated both attacking strength and the need to manage a two-legged advantage. Kimani’s side scored four goals at home on 28 September but conceded three in the 6 October return fixture, leaving an aggregate margin of just one goal.
Against Côte d’Ivoire, the Emerging Stars will need to balance the opportunity to build an advantage in Nairobi with the challenge of protecting or recovering a scoreline in Abidjan. That is a conclusion drawn from the two recorded Tanzania results, not a forecast of the upcoming matches.
Kenya U23 players named in the senior provisional squad
Four members of the Kenya U23 squad — Caleb Kramer, Aldrine Kibet, Kevin Wangaya and Lawrence Okoth — also appear in the Harambee Stars provisional group for the November international window. Their inclusion in both announcements shows the overlap between the youth and senior national-team talent pools, but does not guarantee appearances for either side.
The senior national-team context is available in the Football Kenya Federation Harambee Stars squad announcement.
Kenya U23 AFCON qualifiers: what comes after Côte d’Ivoire?
Kenya U23’s 2027 AFCON qualifying path still includes a third and final qualifying round if the Emerging Stars defeat Côte d’Ivoire. Progression from the November tie would therefore extend the campaign rather than secure a place at the tournament outright.
The U23 AFCON also forms part of the qualification route for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Kenya’s immediate challenge, however, is to complete the November fixtures and earn a place in the final qualifying round.
Also Read
Kenya 4–1 Tanzania: first-leg U23 AFCON qualifier report
Anthony Kimani on the transition from Kenya U20 to U23 football
Follow the Kenya U23 squad and qualifying campaign
The Kenya U23 squad combines players involved in the Tanzania tie with additional provisional selections for the Côte d’Ivoire matches. The immediate focus is the two-leg second round, followed by a possible final qualifying tie in 2027. Keep track of Kenya U23 fixtures and results through verified FKF announcements and SportPesa Score’s supported football coverage as new match information becomes available.
