Kenya’s U-20 football team, the Junior Stars, has been drawn into Group A for the U-20 AFCON CECAFA qualifiers, following a draw held at Azam TV studios in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.The qualifiers will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from October 6 to 20, 2024. The finalists will secure qualification for the AFCON U20, though the host nation is yet to be determined.##NAJAVA_MECA_8330097##In Group A, Kenya will face off against Rwanda, Sudan, Djibouti, and Tanzania in the group stages. Group B comprises Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, and Ethiopia.While the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has yet to name the technical bench for the U-20 team, it is widely expected that Kenya Police FC coach Salim Babu and Bidco United coach Anthony Akhulia will be tasked with leading the team.Earlier this year, in March, the U-20 team reached the final of a four-nation tournament in Malawi, where they lost to the hosts. That tournament was seen as part of the team’s preparations for the upcoming qualifiers.Manchester United star Andre Onana scared of Harambee Stars ahead of October AFCON qualifiersA significant number of the players from that tournament are expected to be included in the qualifiers, along with some new emerging talent.The U20 team will also aim to surpass last year’s performance of the U-18 team, which lost 2-1 to Uganda in the CECAFA U-18 final held in Kisumu. This year’s U-20 squad will not only target winning the tournament but also securing a spot at next year’s AFCON U-20.Yusuf Mossi, CECAFA Competitions Manager, confirmed earlier that nine teams from the region have been submitted by their respective member associations for the qualifiers.”The draw will take place on Thursday, September 12th, in Dar es Salaam, where one group will consist of five teams and the other of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to represent the Zone at next year’s AFCON U-20 tournament,” Mossi said.In the previous AFCON U-20 Zonal qualifiers in 2022, Uganda claimed victory by defeating South Sudan 2-1 in the final at Al-Hilal Stadium in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan.BREAKING: Kenya in Pool A of AFCON U20 qualifiers
