Kenya’s Rising Stars secure semi-final spot with emphatic win over Sudan

Kenya’s Rising Stars stormed into the semi-finals of the CECAFA Under-20 Championships with a dominant 4-0 win over Sudan at the Azam Complex in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on Tuesday. The result sees Kenya secure a spot in the last four, needing only a draw to advance but taking all three points to top Group A and avoid a match-up with defending champions Uganda in the semis.

Aldrine Kibet, a forward from Nastic Academy, stole the show with a hat-trick, while Kevin Wangaya added the fourth goal. The victory pushed Salim Babu’s side to the top of their group with 10 points after four games.

Kenya struck early in the match, with Kibet opening the scoring in the fourth minute. He nodded home a corner delivered by AFC Leopards midfielder Hassan Beja. Prior to the goal, the Rising Stars controlled the game, coming close to scoring in the first two minutes, but Sudan's goalkeeper Mohammed Abdalla Ibrahim managed to keep them at bay, denying both Beja and Kibet.

The Kenyan side continued their pressure, and Wangaya almost doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, combining well with Kibet, who is based in Spain, but his effort ended up in the hands of Abdalla Ibrahim. Kibet found the back of the net again in the 40th minute, slotting in a goal from the centre of the box after a well-timed pass from William Mwangi, who had been set up by Baron Ochieng.

Sudan came out strong in the second half, nearly reducing the deficit with an early effort, but Kenyan goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala kept them out, deflecting the ball for a corner. Just four minutes into the second half, Kenya’s Andreas Odhiambo unleashed a powerful shot, but Abdalla Ibrahim was again up to the task, keeping the scoreline unchanged.

Sudan earned a promising free kick in the 57th minute near Kenya’s penalty area, but Ahmed Gobartalla’s shot was turned away by Wanzala, and Waheed Shandi Somi Elbadri’s follow-up attempt flew wide.

Kenya made a double substitution around the 60-minute mark, introducing USA-based Louis Ingavi and Shabana's Dalphene Ezekiah, with Lawrence Okoth and William Mwangi making way. In the 67th minute, Wangaya capitalized on a defensive error by Elborae Gamal Elhag to net Kenya’s third goal, marking his fourth of the tournament.

Kibet rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute, sealing the 4-0 victory and Kenya's place in the semi-finals. Both teams continued to search for more goals as the match wound down, but Kenya's solid performance ensured they finished on top, keeping their hopes of a historic qualification for the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations alive.

Now just a game away from making their debut in the continental tournament, the Rising Stars aim to reach the final, as the top two finishers in the CECAFA Championships will secure a spot in next year’s Under-20 Cup of Nations.