Kenya Under-20 head coach Salim Babu has lauded the impact of national team boss Benni McCarthy, whose presence throughout the Rising Stars’ preparations for the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt has significantly lifted team morale.Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsIn an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia, Babu praised the South African football legend for his hands-on support, noting that McCarthy’s involvement has been a game-changer for both players and coaching staff.“It has been a refreshing experience for the team. Just having him attend training sessions and friendly matches has been incredibly motivating. If a national team coach can be this close to a youth squad, it shows there’s genuine belief in their potential,” Babu said.##NAJAVA_MECA_8877375##“Benni speaks to the boys, jokes with them, and shares his experience—and that kind of engagement from someone of his caliber gives us a huge confidence boost moving forward,” added Babu, who also coaches FKF Premier League side Nairobi City Stars.The Rising Stars are set to make history as they land in Egypt for their first-ever appearance at the U-20 AFCON, which kicks off in early May.Babu becomes the first coach to lead a Kenyan junior side to the continental tournament, marking a milestone in his long-term youth development project that began with the U-18 Junior Stars.Benni McCarthy warns of a ‘scary’ Harambee Stars in futureKenya earned their place at the biennial championship after finishing runners-up at the CECAFA regional qualifiers, narrowly losing to hosts Tanzania in the final.Most of the current U-20 squad is drawn from the same pool that featured in the CECAFA U-18 Championship final, showcasing a seamless transition and a strong sense of continuity.Despite being debutants, Babu is not content with simply participating. The bigger goal, he says, is qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile—a reward reserved for the tournament’s four semi-finalists.“Our target from the very beginning has been clear—to qualify for the World Cup. We’ve communicated that to the players, and they are fully committed to achieving it,” Babu emphasized.World Cup ticket at stake as Junior Starlets take on Cameroon in final qualifier roundDrawn into a tough Group B alongside Nigeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, Kenya will face experienced sides who are no strangers to the continental stage. Still, Babu remains unfazed.“It’s a tough group, but we expected this. Every team at this tournament earned their place and is strong. We are taking one match at a time. We know we’re underdogs, but teamwork will be our biggest strength,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_8883604##He also sees their lack of previous exposure as an advantage. “Not much is known about us. We haven’t played at this level before, so we’ll use the element of surprise. That could be our secret weapon to catch teams off-guard and progress.”
