Kenya to play Sudan in CECAFA U18 championship opening match

By Peter Ochieng

The 2023 Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) U18 boys’ championships kicks off on Saturday, 25th November, 2023, with Kisumu and Kakamega being chosen as hosts.

The final match will be played on 9th December, 2023. Kenya’s U18 side christened Junior Stars opens its campaign against Sudan in Kisumu on Saturday, at 3pm.

Kenya has been pooled in group A alongside Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan and Djibouti. All group A matches will be played in Kisumu.

Group B consists of Tanzania, Zanzibar, South Sudan, Uganda, with all the matches scheduled to be played in Kakamega.

Winners of each group will face off against the runners up in the semi-finals to be played in Kisumu on 5th December, 2023.

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports Ababu Namwamba says the tournament is the start of a journey towards building future national soccer team, Harambee Stars.

“Dala, Ingo...are you ready for this exhilarating exhibition of youth football talents? This is where we formally start the journey of building, from scratch, the @Harambee__Stars of the future. Come cheer our U18 national football team, an exciting blend of top talents from our schools and academies. We are giving all gifted youngsters a chance, as we piece together the most competitive team possible,” the CS said.

“Delighted to have secured the release and flown in Aldrine Kibet, Alvin Kasavuli and Amos Wanjala from Nastic Soccer Academy in Spain and Luis Ingavi from Monteverde Academy in Orlando, Florida. The four have joined the rest of the team in residential training at Kasarani ahead of the CECAFA U18 Tournament that kicks off in Kisumu and Kakamega,” he added.

The Kenyan side is coached by former Sony Sugar, defunct Western Stima and Nzoia Sugar tactician Salim Babu.

Goalkeepers Ibrahim Wanzala (Kakamega Homeboyz), David Obasanjo (Migori Youth), Joshua Keya (Rainbow), Salim Andale (Tusker Youth), Benard Maeri (Ruiru Hotstars) and Ryan David (Machakos Boys High School) are among players who made the provisional squad.