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Kenya U20 star Amos Wanjala is banking on CECAFA U18 and COSAFA Cup experience to see them through the U20 AFCON qualifiers.
Junior Stars captain Amos Wanjala has shared how their narrow 1-0 defeat to Uganda in the final of the CECAFA U-18 Championships last December is driving their hunger for success this time round.
As the team heads into the CECAFA AFCON U-20 qualifiers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Wanjala and his teammates are more determined than ever to secure their place in the 2025 AFCON U-20 tournament, a feat never achieved by Kenya before.
The CECAFA qualifiers, running from October 6 to 20, 2024, sees Kenya drawn in Group A alongside hosts Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, and Djibouti. Defending champions Uganda will compete in Group B with South Sudan, Burundi, and Ethiopia.
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For Wanjala, the chance to redeem themselves from last year’s heartbreaking final loss is a motivating factor.
Speaking on how the loss has shaped their approach, Wanjala, now playing for Spain’s AC Torrellano, expressed, "When we played in the U-18 final, we came so close, but we didn’t win. We didn’t take it as a loss, but as a lesson. That experience is pushing us to go all the way this time. We know what’s coming, we’re prepared, and we’re ready to give our best."
“In our group, I believe every team is coming to compete, so nothing will be easy. But we've been preparing, and we believe we have everything we need to qualify—quality players, a good technical bench, and support from the government and the federation," he remarked confidently.
“The CECAFA U-18 final still burns in our hearts, but it’s also made us stronger. We’re more prepared now, and we know what it takes to win. We learned from that loss, and we’ll stop at nothing to get to the final and potentially win the trophy this time.”
Wanjala also highlighted the importance of their experience at the COSAFA Cup in South Africa last June, where the Rising Stars finished second in Group B after victories against Zimbabwe and Zambia but narrowly missed out on the semi-finals after a loss to Comoros.
Wanjala marshaled the defense alongside Gor Mahia’s Sylvester Owino, and some of the players from that CECAFA U-18 squad, such as Aldrine Kibet and Stanley Wilson, were part of that team.
Players like Hassan Beja of AFC Leopards, who is part of the current U-20 set up, were part of that side, and Wanjala has explained how it helped them grow.
"That tournament helped us grow as a team. We learned a lot, and it boosted our confidence," he added.
As the Junior Stars head into their opening match against Tanzania on October 6, Wanjala’s determination to make history is clear.
“It’s not just about me—it’s about the whole team, the technical bench, and the country. At the end of the day, we’ll be very happy if we come back with the trophy. We’re going to fight, and though it won’t be easy, we believe we can win.”
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