Kenya's Emerging Stars made a strong start to their 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, defeating Tanzania 4-1 at Nyayo National Stadium on Monday. The hosts dominated the match, with captain Kevin Wangaya delivering an impressive performance, scoring once and setting up another goal. Paul Osama opened the scoring early, giving Kenya a dream start and putting Tanzania on the back foot.
The Kenyan team controlled much of the opening half but struggled to add to their lead until stoppage time. Wangaya delivered a quality cross into the box, which Lawrence Ouma converted in the 45th minute, sending the hosts into the interval 2-0 ahead. The Tanzanian team failed to create significant scoring opportunities in the first half, allowing Kenya to dictate the pace of the game.
Five minutes after the restart, Wangaya added his name to the scoresheet, extending Kenya's advantage to 3-0 and putting the Emerging Stars firmly in command. Jack Onganya was introduced a minute later, replacing Henry Omollo, as the hosts looked to preserve their advantage. The Tanzanian team was given a lifeline in the 54th minute when they converted a penalty to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Despite the setback, Kenya responded calmly and continued to dictate the contest. The team's clinical finishing gave them a sizeable advantage going into the return fixture in Dar es Salaam on October 6. Kelly Madada sealed the win for Kenya in the 75th minute, finding the net to restore their three-goal cushion and put the result beyond doubt.
Wangaya's goal and assist summed up an influential performance from the captain, who was the standout performer for Kenya. His contributions helped the team secure a convincing win and take a significant step towards advancing to the next round of the qualifying campaign. The Emerging Stars will look to build on this momentum in the return fixture.
The win marked a strong start to the campaign for Kenya's Emerging Stars, who will be looking to make a deep run in the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations. The team's performance was a testament to their skill and determination, and they will be confident of securing a positive result in the return fixture against Tanzania.
The return fixture between Kenya and Tanzania is scheduled to take place on October 6 in Dar es Salaam. Kenya will look to build on their advantage and secure a spot in the next round of the qualifying campaign. The team's performance in the first leg has given them a significant advantage, but they will need to remain focused and determined to achieve their goal.
Key points
- Kevin Wangaya scored and assisted a goal in Kenya's 4-1 win over Tanzania.
- Kenya dominated the match, with Paul Osama and Lawrence Ouma also scoring for the hosts.
- The return fixture between Kenya and Tanzania is scheduled to take place on October 6 in Dar es Salaam.
