Kenya targets back-to-back U-20 AFCON qualification after confirmation of 2027 hosts
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 29.04.26. | 10:24
The Rising Stars will be keen to build on their previous participation and push for a deeper run if they qualify
Kenya aims to qualify for back-to-back CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed Ghana as the hosts of the 2027 edition.
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Having featured in the most recent tournament in Egypt, where they exited at the group stage, Kenya’s focus now shifts to securing another continental appearance through the upcoming CECAFA qualifiers scheduled for Saturday, 19 September, to Saturday, 10 October.
The Rising Stars will be keen to build on their previous participation and push for a deeper run if they qualify.
The 2027 finals will carry added significance, with Ghana set to stage the competition in the same year it marks 70 years of independence.
This will be the second time the West African nation hosts the tournament, having previously done so in 1999, when they went on to lift the trophy on home soil.
A four-time champion, Ghana boasts a rich pedigree in youth football and has consistently developed top-level talent that has gone on to shine both in Africa and globally.
The country’s U-20 system has produced notable names such as Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Derek Boateng, André Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
Ghana also holds a unique place in global football history as the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup, achieving the feat in 2009.
The CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations will feature 12 teams, with the top four nations qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, raising the stakes for teams like Kenya targeting consistent continental presence.
In the last edition, South Africa emerged as champions, underlining the growing competitiveness of youth football across the continent as Kenya eyes another shot at making its mark.