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Aldrine Kibet has made a bold promise to Kenyan fans on what Rising Stars aim at achieving at the 2025 U-20 AFCON only if they are granted their wishes.
Rising Stars standout Aldrine Kibet has issued an urgent call to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Ministry of Sports to grant the Under-20 national team more preparation time ahead of their historic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.
Kibet's appeal follows his pivotal role in guiding Kenya to the tournament, where he netted four goals and provided an assist during the CECAFA qualifiers.
On October 22, 2024, the Ministry of Sports hosted the Rising Stars for a celebratory breakfast at Talanta Hela Plaza.
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05:00 - 22.10.2024
Rising Stars assistant coach hails Kelvin Wangaya after CECAFA U-20 AFCON qualifier heroics
Wangaya has been one of the standout performers for Kenya during the tournament as Salim Babu's charges sealed qualification to the U-20 AFCON.
This event recognised the team's outstanding performance in the qualifiers, where they finished as runners-up to Tanzania, securing their spot in the U-20 AFCON, a first for Kenya's junior football program.
Many of the players on the squad were also part of the U-18 side that claimed silver at the 2023 CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship, demonstrating the continued growth of FKF’s youth development efforts.
Although the Rising Stars achieved a remarkable feat by qualifying, their disappointment was palpable after narrowly losing the final to Tanzania. Kibet reflected on this during the event, but credited the warm reception the team received upon their return as a source of renewed motivation.
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17:59 - 21.10.2024
'I am super grateful' - Kelvin Wangaya reflects on CECAFA U-20 AFCON qualifying breakthrough for Rising Stars
Wangaya was one of the breakthrough stars at the tournament as Rising Stars sealed qualification to the U-20 AFCON qualifiers.
"We were happy. We arrived on Monday from Tanzania and got a good reception, showing people have recognised what we did. They serenaded us," Kibet shared. "People were disappointed to have missed the trophy, but the reception uplifted the mood, showing that qualification is also a good achievement."
Kibet also highlighted the disparity in preparation time between Kenya and Tanzania, noting that the latter had a five-month camp ahead of the tournament, compared to Kenya's mere two weeks of training.
However, he pointed out that Kenya's core players, having previously played together at the U-18 level, managed to build enough chemistry to secure qualification.
Despite this, Kibet emphasised the need for better preparation ahead of the U-20 AFCON. He passionately appealed for a more extensive training period to ensure the team can compete at the highest level.
"We met for a short while before going for the tournament, but now we are going to the next level. As a team, we are not going to just participate. The bare minimum is to get to the final," Kibet stated confidently.
"It is a humble request, both as players and from the technical bench, for us to have better preparation—a pre-season-like window of six-to-eight weeks. When that happens, I am very sure we will win the AFCON."
As Kenya looks ahead to the U-20 AFCON, Kibet’s call for an extended preparation period highlights the team’s determination to not only represent the country but to challenge for the title. The Rising Stars' journey has already ignited hope for the future of Kenyan football, and with the right support, they could make history once again.
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