Kenya’s Rising Stars are facing a growing race against time ahead of the CECAFA U-20 Championship, with preparations under the spotlight as the regional competition approaches.
The tournament will double as the CECAFA qualifiers for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, making it an important assignment for Kenya’s young talents.
Tanzania will host the competition in September. The Tanzania Football Federation confirmed that the country will host the U-20 AFCON qualifying tournament in September 2026.
The national U-20 squad is yet to be officially confirmed, while uncertainty remains over the technical bench. The Football Kenya Federation’s current team profile lists the Rising Stars head coach as TBA, adding to questions over who will lead the side into the tournament.
One name closely associated with Kenya’s recent U-20 campaigns is Salim Babu. In 2024, Babu guided the Rising Stars during the CECAFA U-20 AFCON qualifiers in Tanzania, where Kenya was drawn alongside Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan and Djibouti.
Babu has previously stressed the importance of proper preparation. After the 2024 qualifiers, he called for a longer residential camp and more high-level friendly matches, arguing that adequate preparation would give Kenya a better chance of competing against stronger African opposition.
Kenya has seen before how late preparations can put pressure on youth national teams. In 2024, Babu’s squad was announced only after a provisional selection process, with the team then entering residential camp before travelling to Tanzania for the qualifiers.
With the tournament approaching, Kenya needs to settle the technical leadership, identify the final squad, bring the players together and give them enough time to develop an understanding of each other.
For a young team, preparation is not simply about fitness. It is about building chemistry, understanding the coach’s tactical system and giving players confidence before facing regional rivals.
Meanwhile, Tanzania will have the advantage of home conditions, and the hosts will be eager to make the most of their preparations.
