Kenya's Rising Stars Hold Nigeria to Draw in Dead Rubber AFCON U20 Clash

Once again, Kenya's mistakes at the back cost them dear, as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw in their final AFCON U20 group B clash in Cairo on Wednesday.

Kenya’s Rising Stars ended their U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 campaign on a fair note, drawing 2-2 with Nigeria in their last group B clash that took place at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday evening.

Salim Babu opted to shake up his side heading into the game, dropping notable starters like Amos Wanjala, Andres Omondi and Baron Ochieng, with Jackson Imbiakha, Humphrey Obino and Irad Mshindi coming in their place respectively, as he sought to address their constant defensive lapse issues, which had been the theme of the tournament so far.

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First Half 

Kenya drew first blood in the sixth minute after Nigeria defender Emmanuel Chukwu was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box thanks to VAR intervention after Lawrence Okoth had released a ferocious shot at goal.

However, their lead would not last long, as has become the common theme of the tournament. Kparobo Nathaniel Arierhi would eqalise for the Eagles after he got on the end of an excellent defence-splitting pass by Simon Karshe Cletus following a mix up in the Kenyan build up from the back involving Humphrey Obino.

Kenya needed to find answers and solutions quite quickly, and in the 16th minute, should have taken the lead again through Wangaya.

After a nice, flowing counter-attacking move initiated by Dalphine Omuri down the right, the Shabana winger cut it back for Lawrence Okoth who laid it off to the captain for the day, but the shot went wide.

The game then became open-ended, with both sides creating a flurry of chances, but they went into the break level at one-all.

Second Half

In the second half, Salim Babu opted to make his first changes, bringing on Andres Omondi and William Mwangi for Omuri and Irad Mshindi.

Kenya continued to pile on the pressure, Kenya finally took the lead in the 68th minute through William Gitama Mwangi.

The Bandari winger  got on the end of the well-executed freekick by Wangaya, with Mwangi making an intelligent run unmarked into the back post to send the Kenyan fans in the stadium into frenzy.

Their celebrations were short lived, as Nigeria would win a penalty in the 71st minute after Lawrence Okoth carelessly felled Sulaiman Olalekan Alabi in the box, allowing Daniel Bameyi to equalise from the spot after sending Oduor the wrong way.

Kenya continued to huff and puff in efforts to find a lead again, but in the end, Nigeria would just do enough to earn the point, preceding to the next round as runners up on 5 points, with Morocco topping the group after downing Tunisia 3-1, a side that finished third on 3 points.