The fixtures for the AFCON U20 tournament in Ivory Coast have been unveiled, just four weeks before the competition kicks off. Kenya, having secured their spot by finishing as runners-up in the CECAFA Region qualifiers last year, will be participating for the first time.Although they narrowly lost to Tanzania 2-1 in the final, both teams earned qualification from the region.##NAJAVA_MECA_8801626##Kenya was drawn into a challenging Group C, alongside defending champions Senegal, Zambia, and Sierra Leone. The team is set to play a series of friendly matches as a way of gauging their preparedness for the assignment ahead of them.The Rising Stars will open their campaign against Sierra Leone on 1 May at the Stade de la Paix de Bouaké. Following that, they will face Zambia on 4 May, before wrapping up their group-stage matches against reigning champions Senegal on 7 May —all at the same venue.’I never witnessed this in Europe’ Benni McCarthy lauds Harambee Stars fansThe tournament will feature 13 teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals, along with the two best third-placed teams. From there, the competition will proceed in a knockout format, culminating in the final on 18 May 2025. The four semifinalists will also secure spots in the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025.In a previous interview, coach Babu expressed confidence in his team’s preparations, emphasizing the importance of casting a wide net to recruit the best talent.Sasha Mutai reveals Kenya Sevens target in Hong Kong 7s”We have players from the FKF Premier League, the National Super League (NSL), and other lower-tier leagues, mainly from Nairobi and its surroundings. We’re also bringing in players from Europe to ensure we have the strongest squad possible,” he said.Babu’s goal is clear: to guide Kenya to the semifinals, which would guarantee a historic first-ever qualification for the U-20 World Cup. “Our aim is to finish in the top two of our group, advance to the knockout stages, and ultimately the semifinals. The World Cup ticket is at stake, and we will do everything in our power to achieve it,” he added.Benni McCarthy warns of a ‘scary’ Harambee Stars in future
