Kenya’s Junior Stars are intensifying their training in readiness for the upcoming CECAFA U-18 2023 Boys Championship.
The tournament, scheduled to run from November 25th to December 9th, 2023, will be held in Kisumu and Kakamega counties in Kenya.
Kenya is in Group A alongside formidable competitors Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia and Djibouti. Group B, on the other hand, comprises Tanzania, Zanzibar, South Sudan and Uganda.
The stage is set for a thrilling competition, with Kisumu hosting all Group A matches and Kakamega County staging all Group B encounters.
Auka Gecheo, CECAFA Executive Director, has expressed satisfaction that Sudan, despite facing challenges due to their suspension of football activities since April 15th, 2023, has confirmed its participation.
Yussuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director, provided insights into the tournament structure.
“Nine teams, with Burundi, Ethiopia and Eritrea in exclusion, will be divided into Groups A and B, each comprising four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals,” Mossi said.
The participating teams, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Zanzibar and Somalia are gearing up for a challenging yet exciting competition.
Kenya, placed in Group A, is set to compete alongside Somalia, Rwanda and Sudan in Kisumu while Group B, featuring Tanzania, Zanzibar, South Sudan, and Uganda, will battle it out in Kakamega.
The CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship is not only a platform for intense football rivalry but also a significant opportunity for young talents in Africa to showcase their skills.
The tournament, which will be streamed live on the Kenya Football Federation’s official Facebook page, promises to be a spectacle that goes beyond regional boundaries.
As the championship opens, the focus will be shifted to the opening clash between hosts Kenya and Sudan in Kisumu on November 25th, 2023.
It is believed that the tournament will serve as valuable preparation for the AFCON U-20 Zonal qualifiers slated for 2024, offering teams a chance to fine-tune their strategies and gain crucial match practice.
With the semi-finals and finals set to be held in Kisumu on December 5th, the CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship is poised to captivate football enthusiasts and provide a glimpse into the future of African football talent.
Kenyan Team Coach Salim Babu has named the U-18 national team squad for the upcoming championship, with Duncan Odhiambo and Aldrine Kibet among the forwards.
🛫| Junior Stars heading to Kisumu for the CECAFA U18 Championships kicking off on Saturday, November 25, 2023. pic.twitter.com/Z2M3qs8yrI
— Football Kenya Federation (@Football_Kenya) November 23, 2023
Kenya U18 final squad
Goalkeepers
Ibrahim Wanzala, Joshua Keya, Junior Odhiambo.
Defenders
Baron Ochieng, Joseph Bate, Amos Wanjala, Manzur Okwaro.
Midfielders
Stanley Wilson, Dalphene Ezekiah, Tyron Kariuki, Lucas Maina, Adrian Oloo, Elly Awino, Sigmun Maina, Alvin Kasavuli, Collins Ochieng, Kevin Musambai, Joseph Omuse, Humphrey Omondi.
Forwards
Syphas Otieno, Dancan Odhiambo, Louise Ingavi, Aldrine Kibet.
The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) is an association of the football-playing nations in Eastern and Central Africa.
It includes national teams from Central and East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Eritrea, Somalia, Burundi and Djibouti).
