Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa is delighted with the performance of the junior national team currently participating in the CECAFA Under-20 Championships in Tanzania.The team defeated Sudan 4-0 on Tuesday and is now one match away from qualifying for next year’s Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations finals.##NAJAVA_MECA_8419221##Despite the impressive performance, the FKF believes that most of the players will only be ready for inclusion in the senior national team, Harambee Stars, in about three years.“It’s a great achievement by the team, and as a federation, we are proud of their success,” Mwendwa said.Mwendwa revealed that the team’s performance is the culmination of hard work over the past four years, which is now bearing fruit.“We have deliberately kept the team together for a long time, ensuring consistency and avoiding disruptions. The results are there for all to see, and we expect even better performances in the future.”“In the next three years, many of these players will be ready to join the senior team. For now, they still lack the experience required at that level, but they’re getting there and just need time.”Former Harambee Stars midfielder Osborne Monday details improvements in Kenyan football since retiringShould the Under-20 team qualify for the CECAFA final, it will be their first time competing at the continental level.Coached by Salim Babu, the team participated in this year’s Four Nations tournament in Malawi, alongside the senior Harambee Stars.This is their best performance in the CECAFA competition, having failed to progress beyond the group stages two years ago.With Kenya set to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, the focus will be on players from the current Under-20 side to step up and represent the country at the senior level.The current Harambee Stars squad still includes several players who represented Kenya at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals.Paul Ogai impressed with new backline at Darajani Gogo
