Kenya's national under-20 team, Rising Stars, has failed to qualify for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-1 draw with South Sudan in their final qualifying match. The team's coach, Gilbert Selebwa, attributed the failure to a lack of a long-term strategy for youth football development in the country. Selebwa noted that the team's performance was hindered by the fact that 70% of the players were participating in the tournament for the first time.
Selebwa emphasized the need for a structured approach to developing young players, suggesting that Kenya should have a solid group of players progressing from the under-15 to under-17 and under-20 teams. He believes that this is crucial for the country's football development, as it would allow for a more cohesive and experienced team. The coach also pointed out that the team's composition revealed a significant gap in Kenya's youth football development system.
The failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations has exposed the weaknesses in Kenya's youth football development system. Selebwa noted that the team's players were mostly promoted from under-20 and under-23 teams, lacking experience in major tournaments. He stressed that Kenya needs to invest in developing young players through a well-structured system, rather than assembling teams just before major tournaments.
Selebwa called on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to ensure that qualified and capable coaches are appointed at the grassroots level to identify and nurture young talent. He believes that this would help strengthen Kenya's youth teams and improve their performance in international competitions. The coach, who has previously managed AFC Leopards, Shabana FC, and Muhoroni Youth, emphasized the importance of having the right coaches to develop young players.
Kenya's failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations has raised concerns about the state of youth football in the country. The team's campaign was marked by a 2-0 loss to Burundi in their first qualifying match, followed by a 1-1 draw with South Sudan. Despite Brighton Nancheri's late equalizer, Kenya finished second in Group C with one point, same as South Sudan, but ahead on goal difference.
The failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations means that Kenya will miss out on the tournament to be held in Ghana next year. Selebwa's comments have sparked a renewed debate about the need for a long-term strategy for youth football development in Kenya. The country's football authorities will need to address these concerns and develop a plan to improve the performance of the national teams.
The Kenya national team's struggles have been attributed to a lack of investment in youth football development. The country's football authorities have been criticized for failing to provide adequate support for grassroots programs and for not investing enough in developing young players. With the Africa Cup of Nations looming, Kenya's football authorities will need to take concrete steps to address these concerns and develop a plan to improve the performance of the national teams.
Key points
- Kenya's national under-20 team, Rising Stars, has failed to qualify for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations.
- Coach Gilbert Selebwa calls for a long-term strategy for youth football development in Kenya.
- Kenya's football authorities have been criticized for failing to provide adequate support for grassroots programs.
