Midfielder Andreas Odhiambo says the gradual elevation of junior players to the senior team, the Harambee Stars, will go a long way in boosting Rising Stars’ World Cup qualification hopes.Rising Stars qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals after finishing second in the CECAFA qualifiers held this month in Tanzania.Odhiambo revealed the team’s ambition of daring to defy all odds and finish inside the top four of the AFCON finals and subsequently, punch a ticket to the World Cup, set for Chile.The top four teams in the continent will automatically book slots in the World Cup.##NAJAVA_MECA_8457025##In the interest of preparing the team for the continental assignment, Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat handed Odhiambo and Ibrahim Wanzala their first call-ups to the senior team.The two were included in the team that lost 2-0 to South Sudan in a 2025 CHAN qualifier held last Sunday at Juba Stadium.CONFIRMED: Kenya to allow fans into stadium against South Sudan after Cameroon lock outDespite their omission from the team ahead of the second leg, set for this weekend in Uganda, Odhiambo says the early introduction to the bigger stage will help the Rising Stars’ bid for a place in the World Cup.“I learnt a lot in the training sessions I had with the senior team. Having some of the Rising Stars players will prepare us for the big assignments ahead. Having more players in the senior team’s training sessions will prepare us for the AFCON and will enhance our chances of making it to the World Cup. Our plan is to qualify for the World Cup just like the Junior Starlets,” said Odhiambo.Disappointing outings for Harambee Stars duo in South Africa and RomaniaHaving secured his first senior team cap, the Kariobangi Sharks midfielder hopes to return next month ahead of the final AFCON round of qualifiers.Kenya will have to beat Zimbabwe and Namibia next month to book a place in the 2025 AFCON finals.Odhiambo acknowledges that it will not be a walk in the park as far as getting a slot for the final AFCON qualifiers, but he is banking on hard work and consistency to open the opportunity.
