Rising Stars lose to AFC Leopards as Okumbi names CECAFA final squad

The Kenya U-20 national football team, Rising Stars, lost their final build-up friendly match 3-2 against AFC Leopards in a match played on Wednesday evening.

The team has now played five friendlies in their built-up preparations for CECAFA.

In their first friendly, they lost to Kibera Black Stars 4-2, won 3-1 and 2-1 respectively in back to back friendlies against Sudan before playing out to a barren draw against record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia 0-0.

They also won 2-1 against KCB before losing 3-2 against Leopards.

In the meantime, Kenya U20 National team coach Stanley Okumbi has named the final squad for the upcoming CECAFA U20 Championships, to be played from November 22 to December 2 in Arusha, Tanzania.

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The team primarily includes players who played for the Kenya U17 team at the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations Qualifiers, and the Union of North African Federations (UNAF) U17 tournament in Egypt in 2019.

Among them are Maxwell Mulili, Boniface Mwangemi, Alphonse Omija, Kevinton Machika, and Nicholas Omondi.

The team also included in the squad Chapa Dimba na Safaricom star Enoch Wanyama and new Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala.

The Rising Stars have been pooled in Group C of the tournament alongside Ethiopia and Sudan of the regional showpiece.

Rising Stars Squad

Goalkeepers - Maxwell Mulili, Brian Opondo

Defenders - Boniface Mwangemi, Collins Sichenje, Kelvin Mose, Alphonse Omija, Frank Odhiambo, Lewis Bandi, Fredrick Alushula.

Midfielders - Steiner Musasia, Nicholas Omondi, Enoch Wanyama, Ronald Reagan, Alphonse Washe, Mathew Mwendwa, Simon Omondi, Lesly Otieno, Hillary Odhiambo, Ian Simiyu, Ronald Shichenje.

Forwards - Benson Omala, Kevinton Machika, Henry Meja, Sellasie Otieno