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Rising Stars face a high-stakes showdown against Sudan in a must-win U-20 AFCON qualifier to secure semifinal spot.
Kenya take on Sudan today in a decisive U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) zonal qualifier at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Rising Stars will be vying for a place in the semifinals with the match kicking off at 2:00 PM EAT.
Kenya currently sits in second place in Group A with seven points from three games while Sudan is breathing down their necks in third place with six points.
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18:00 - 13.10.2024
Kevin Wangaya-inspired Rising Stars toss aside Djibouti to keep CECAFA AFCON-U20 qualification hopes alive
Wangaya produced an inspired performance, scoring two and assisting once as Kenya trumped Djibouti 4-0 to keep their CECAFA U-20 AFCON hopes alive.
The stakes are high, as both teams have a clear path to the semifinals, but only one will secure the crucial spot by the end of the day.
“This match is make or break for us,” Kenya coach Salim Babu said ahead of the clash.
“Sudan is a very tactical side, and they’ve shown they can perform under pressure. We need to be at our absolute best if we want to go through.”
Babu emphasized that while the competition is stiff, Kenya is determined to give everything in this must-win game.
The Rising Stars started their campaign on a strong note, defeating group leaders Tanzania 2-1 on the opening day, before settling for a goalless draw with Rwanda.
Their most dominant performance came on Sunday when they thrashed Djibouti 4-0 to bring their tally to seven points. Sudan, on the other hand, narrowly lost 1-0 to Tanzania but rebounded with victories against Rwanda and Djibouti to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
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18:09 - 10.10.2024
Rising Stars fail to break down Rwanda in tight a CECAFA U-20 encounter in Dar es Salaam
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances Rising Stars faced challenges in converting opportunities.
A win today would see Kenya finish atop Group A, leapfrogging Tanzania, who have already secured their place in the semifinals with nine points from four matches.
However, even a draw would be enough for Kenya to advance, albeit as the second-placed team. This could set up a much tougher semifinal encounter against Uganda, the Group B leaders and tournament favorites.
Coach Babu is well aware of the challenge ahead. "We know the importance of finishing first in the group. If we end up second, we’ll likely face Uganda, and they’ve been in great form. Avoiding them at this stage would give us a better chance of reaching the final," he said.
Uganda has been dominant in Group B and are expected to give any opponent a run for their money in the knockout stages.
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07:15 - 15.10.2024
'Our AFCON journey is far from over' - Why Sports CS Murkomen is not giving up of Harambee Stars just yet
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen believes there's still a lot at stake for Harambee Stars as far as their qualification for AFCON 2025 is concerned.
Key players for Kenya in today’s game will include Kevin Wangaya, Andreas Odhiambo, Aldrine Kibet, Hassan Beja, and William Gitamu, all of whom have been crucial to the team’s success so far.
While Sudan may appear to be the underdogs, Babu stressed that they are not to be underestimated.
"Sudan has been growing stronger with each game, and they’ve got a lot of tactical discipline. We can’t afford to take them lightly, but I have full faith in my players," he added.
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05:08 - 15.10.2024
Calculators out! What do Harambee Stars need to qualify for AFCON 2025?
Harambee Stars face a tough road to AFCON 2025 qualification with crucial matches ahead and tight margins.
For Kenya, the potential of facing Uganda if they finish second in Group A looms large, making the incentive to win today’s match even greater.
"We want to give ourselves the best possible chance to go far in this tournament, and finishing top of the group is key to that," Babu concluded.
A win will propel them to the top of the group and give them a clearer path to the final, while a loss will see their AFCON dreams come to an abrupt end.
All eyes will be on the KMC Stadium as Kenya battles Sudan in what promises to be a thrilling must-win contest.
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