Kenya’s U20 football team, Rising Stars, has secured a ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following their resounding 4-0 win over Burundi in the semifinals of the CECAFA qualifiers at the Azam Sports Complex, Tanzania.
Strikes from Lawrence Okoth, Hassan Beja, Aldrine Kibet and Louis Ingavi help the team make history as the first ever men’s junior side in Kenya to qualify for the youthful continental tournament.
Despite Kenya’s control of the first half, neither side could find the breakthrough, and the teams went into halftime at 0-0.
In the second half Lawrence Okoth opened the scoring in the 52nd and Hassan Beja doubled the lead with a clinical finish in the 66th minute.
In the 69th minute Aldrine Kibet made it 3-0 and Louise Ingavi capped off the match with a stoppage-time goal in the 90+4 minute.
The Salim Babu-coached team will now take on hosts Tanzania in the final tomorrow after they eliminated Uganda 2-1 on post-match penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The two sides previously met in the group stage, with Kenya emerging victorious 2-1.
Both teams have already qualified for the 2025 AFCON as the CECAFA region’s representatives, but the final will determine the regional champion in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Kenya has remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, boasting an impressive record of four wins and one draw, with 14 goals scored and only one conceded.
