The Kenya U-18 coach Salim Babu has prioritized age eligibility for CECAFA to avoid past controversies.
Kenya Under-18 head coach Salim Babu has emphasized the meticulous consideration of age cutoffs in the selection of players for the upcoming CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship, scheduled to kick off on Saturday 25 November in Kisumu.
This commitment to maintaining the integrity of the age group has been inspired by past experiences, including a notorious ban in 2016 that marred the reputation of Kenya's Under-20 football team.
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A couple of FKFPL players have made the cut, including Shabana’s Delphine Omuri, as well as Ulinzi Stars’ Lucas Maina.
Babu, who is currently Kenya Police FC’s assistant coach in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL), emphasized their meticulous approach to squad selection ahead of the eight-team tournament.
"We are going to announce the final squad that will be acceptable to all Kenyans. We have selected the best players of the right age for the tournament. Our goal is to win the tournament," he said.
Babu's preliminary squad is a diverse mix, including players from school teams and those actively engaged in various tournaments and FKF-run leagues across the nation.
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Kenya finds itself placed in Group A alongside formidable opponents such as Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan, and Djibouti.
Group B, on the other hand, comprises Tanzania, Zanzibar, South Sudan, and Uganda, setting the stage for an exhilarating football extravaganza.
The opening Group A match will see Kenya locking horns with Sudan, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive campaign for the title.
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As the teams gear up for action, the specter of past controversies looms large, particularly the infamous 2016 ban imposed by the African football governing body, CAF, on Kenya's Under-20 team.
Recalling the incident, it is worth noting that Kenya faced CAF's sanctions for fielding overage players in a match against Sudan during the Under 20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Sudan had filed a complaint alleging that Kenya had fielded five players born in 1996, a violation of CAF rules that permitted players born in 1997 only.
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Pool A matches are scheduled to take place in Kisumu at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo.
Meanwhile, Pool B matches will unfold in Kakamega at Bukhungu Stadium, where Zanzibar will face South Sudan in the opener on November 26th, while Tanzania squares off against Uganda in a highly anticipated clash.
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