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Wangaya was one of the breakthrough stars at the tournament as Rising Stars sealed qualification to the U-20 AFCON qualifiers.
When Rising Stars midfielder Kelvin Wangaya traveled with the rest of the squad to Dar es Salaam for the U-20 CECAFA AFCON qualifying tournament three weeks ago, he did not envision himself getting a higher profile than he is already enjoying now.
Stanley Wilson, who now plays for AIK, was expected to link up with the squad from Sweden and play a key role. However, his club failed to release him as he continues adapting to life at the club he joined last August, and so Babu resorted to using the Albanian-based midfielder.
What a breath of fresh air he has been. He scored four goals and registered one assist during the tournament, and was a revelation with his willingness to drop deep in build up to receive the ball, play on the half turn, drive with the ball forward and release killer passes to the more advanced midfielders.
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Even more impressive was that ability to scan the pitch before receiving the possession, not too dissimilar to former Spain, Arsenal and Chelsea great Cesc Fabregas.
These skills helped the country secure its second ever qualification to the U-20 AFCON set to take place in 2025.
Although Kenya would have wished to claim the overall title, they had to be content with a runners up place after Tanzania clawed back from a goal down to win 2-1 in front of a parked KMC Stadium in Dar Es Salaam.
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Reflecting on the tournament, the midfielder expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “I am super grateful. If it were not for God, we would not have been here now. I thank Him a lot because it has been a good tournament,” Wangaya told Pulse Sports.
Kenya had initially taken the lead in the final, but Tanzania clawed back with two late goals. Wangaya, who was involved in a controversial moment before Tanzania’s winner, recounted the incident.
“It was a foul on me, but they are at home. Maybe the referee did not see. It is football, but we accept the situation and that is the way it is,” he said. The challenge, which went unpunished, led directly to Valentino Mashaka’s decisive goal in the 82nd minute.
Despite the disappointment of losing the final, Wangaya remains focused on the positives as Kenya prepares for the U-20 AFCON.
“Moving forward as a team, we just have to work hard because that is another stage, and we have to show people this is what brought us here,” he emphasized.
Wangaya also highlighted the importance of unity and support from all stakeholders. “If we stand united as Kenyans and the federation and government help us like they did this final, all will be well. The Kenyans must not lose hope on us,” he said.
For Wangaya, who now plays in Albania for Apolonia Fier, the tournament was not just a stepping stone for the team but also for his own career. “This was a chance for me to express myself, and now I know that things will get better for me,” he added.
With his standout performances, Wangaya has undoubtedly raised his profile, and his potential to lead Kenya to even greater heights at the 2025 U-20 AFCON looks promising.
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