Kenya’s under-20 final squad unveiled for CECAFA AFCON qualifiers

Kenya U20 head coach Gilbert Selebwa has completed his selection for the upcoming CECAFA U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Tanzania, naming the players who will represent the country in the battle for qualification to the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.

The final selection features a combination of schoolboys and players attached to clubs in Kenya and abroad. The squad also highlights the continued development of Kenya’s junior players, with a number of footballers who featured for the U17 side last year earning promotion to the Rising Stars set-up.

Those making the transition include Raphael Omondi, Eugine Belety, Trevor Nasasiro, Yusuf Ahmed, Armstrong Omondi, Brighton Nacheri and Julius Ochieng.

Selebwa has also recalled two players who were part of Kenya’s previous U20 AFCON campaign, Bernard Jairo and Telena Ochieng, giving the team a blend of experience and emerging talent.

The Rising Stars will begin their qualifying campaign on September 17 when they take on Burundi at Uhuru Stadium. The match is scheduled to start at 8 pm.

Kenya will return to action two days later, facing South Sudan in their second Group C fixture at the same venue. Kick-off for that encounter is set for 2 pm on September 19, 2026.

Final squad

Goalkeepers

Wayne Orata – Kariobangi Sharks FC

Benard Jairo – Nairobi United FC

Theodore Mwangi – Ongata Academy

Defenders

Raphael Omondi – Kariobangi Sharks FC

Eugine Belety – Kakamega School

Telena Ochieng – Tusker FC

Charles Auma – FC Talanta

Edwin Jumba – Shabana FC

Rodgers Wasega – Posta Rangers FC

Stephen Ouma – St. Mary’s, Yala

Midfielders

Nasasiro Trevor – St. Anthony’s, Kitale

Hamvin Okoth – Migori Youth FC

Yusuf Ahmed – Utsikten BK, Sweden

Armstrong Omondi – Kariobangi Sharks FC

Churchil Ombuor – Migori Youth FC

Brighton Nacheri – Kakamega School

Allan Otieno – Migori Youth FC

Abdirizak Nurie – Berlin FC

Quincy Waithanji – BFC Dynamo, Germany

Forwards

Bravin Omondi – Mombasa Elite FC

Julius Ochieng – Kakamega School

Keylah Mauko – CF Reus Deportiu, Spain

Austine Odongo – Shaban FC

Seedoph Zgoll – Dereham FC, United Kingdom

Brighton Omondi – St. Mary’s, Yala

Kenya’s opening fixtures

Kenya vs Burundi

September 17, 2026 | 8:00 pm | Uhuru Stadium

Kenya vs South Sudan

September 19, 2026 | 2:00 pm | Uhuru Stadium

The qualifiers will provide Kenya’s young players with an opportunity to secure a place at the 2027 U20 AFCON tournament while continuing the development pathway from the country’s junior national teams to the Rising Stars.