In Cairo
Former Harambee Stars midfielder McDonald Mariga has urged the Kenya Under-20 men’s football team players to use the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Cairo as a platform for showcasing their talent so as to boost their chances of securing opportunities to play abroad.
Kenya Under-20 men’s team, nicknamed ‘Rising Stars’ are among the 13 nations competing in the tournament that began on Sunday and will end on May 18.
While addressing the press in Cairo on Sunday evening, Mariga, who is the vice president of the Football Kenya Federation, said that with many football stakeholders, including agents following the matches in Cairo, the Kenyan players should seize the opportunity to attract better career opportunities.
“In this tournament, we have many agents who will be scouting for players because this is the right age to find good players to represent their clubs. My message to Kenyan players is that they should give their best because this is where their future begins,” said Mariga, who enjoyed remarkable football success in Europe.
He played for several clubs both locally and abroad, including Italian sides Parma and Inter Milan.
In 2010, Mariga became the first Kenyan to win the prestigious UEFA Champions League title when he triumphed with Inter Milan.
Kenyan squad in training at Phoenix Complex in Cairo on Sunday.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Making their second appearance in the Under-20 Afcon finals after their first attempt in 1979 when the tournament was referred to as the African Youth Championship, Kenya will open their campaign against Morocco on Thursday in Group “B” at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo from 9 pm (Kenyan time).
The 'Rising Stars' will next face Tunisia at the same venue on May 4 from 6pm, before winding up their group fixtures against Nigeria on May 7 at the same venue from 6pm.
Group “A” consists of four-time champions Egypt, former winners Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Tanzania while defending champions Senegal, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and four-time winners Ghana are the teams in Group “C”.
Since their arrival in Cairo on April 21, Kenya, coached by Salim Babu, have intensified preparations at the Phoenix Hotel and Wellness Centre, which also serves as their residence.
All the semi-finalists in the tournament will qualify for the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup which will be staged in Chile from September 27 to October 19.
Kenya’s captain, Amos Wanjala, thanked the government for supporting the team and providing the players with sufficient training time, noting that it has been instrumental in building strong team cohesion and unity among the players.
He also expressed optimism that the experience he has gained from playing in Spain will significantly contribute to the team’s efforts in achieving their primary goal of qualifying for the World Cup.
“Our fans should anticipate nothing less than victories. We are determined to achieve our goals, which are to successfully qualify for the prestigious U-20 Fifa World Cup and to bring the coveted Under-20 Afcon title home,” he said after the team’s training session on Sunday evening.
The team’s assistant coach, Godfrey ‘Solo’ Oduor, said their 2-2 draw against Ghana in a friendly match on April 24 has given them the confidence to perform well in the tournament. "It was a very good match and it gives us the motivation that we can do well in the tournament,” said Oduor
The top two teams in the three groups and the two best third-placed teams will progress to the quarter-finals.
