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Tyrone Kariuki was among five surprising misses in the final Rising Stars squad for the U20 AFCON, but who else was left out?
Rising Stars head coach Salim Babu has named his final 26-man squad for the upcoming U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off in Egypt on April 27 and runs through to May 18, 2025.
While Kenya's qualification through the CECAFA region raised hopes, their placement in a daunting Group B alongside Morocco, Tunisia, and Nigeria has set the stage for a real test of character.
Although the core of the team remains intact—with 14 players having progressed together from the U-18 level—several notable absentees from the final squad have sparked discussion.
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From a tournament-winning goalkeeper to an England-based attacking prospect, Babu’s final call-up list was a ruthless exercise in form over sentiment.
Here’s a look at the five biggest omissions from the squad:
Tyrone Kariuki & 5 big omissions from Rising Stars' AFCON U20 squad
Tyron Kariuki
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Most fans were surprised to see Tyron Kariuki, a footballer who wowed them so much during the CECAFA U-18 Boys Championships held in Kenya in late 2023 miss out on the final 25-man squad for the tournament.
Kariuki has struggled for gametime since leaving the now-defunct Rainbow FC in July 2024, with a move to Croatia failing to materialise. He trained with a host of FKF Premier League sides for a while before securing a move to KCB in February, but has yet to kick a ball for the bankers.
The lack of sufficient gametime, plus the fact that at U-20 level, he has not been a key player so much, rendered his services not needed for the tournament.
During the qualifiers for the tournament in Tanzania, he only made a handful of substitute appearances off the bench, so it was clear Salim Babu did not need him that much for the number 10 role, especially with Aldrine Kibet and AFC Leopards’ Kelly Madada on finer form.
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Ibrahim Wanzala
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Perhaps the most surprising omission from the squad is Ibrahim Wanzala. Wanzala’s heroics helped the side qualify for the tournament in the first place, having been named keeper of the tournament at the CECAFA qualifiers in Tanzania.
The Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper was also important at U-18 level, just like Kariuki, as he helped Junior Stars reach the final of that CECAFA U-18 tournament in Kisumu, where they lost to Uganda.
However, he had been nursing an injury that ruled him out for three months, and only returned to action at club level recently, which probably explains the reason why he was completely left out of the side.
Louis Ingavi
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Another shock omission from the squad, Louis Ingavi would have been expected to be part of the team, even though not necessarily as the starting striker.
During the CECAFA qualifiers, he went to the tournament in Tanzania as the lead center forward, but his influence waned as MOFA FC striker Lawrence Okoth’s physical presence and back to goal play became more preferred by the head coach.
Babu also decided to pick forwards of a similar ilk to Okoth, to use as back ups in case the lanky striker tires out during the game, including Oliver Machaka.
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Stanley Wilson
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His omission in particular is incredibly surprising. It was largely expected Stanley Wilson, now at AIK in Sweden, would have been made available for international duty considering his limited gametime in Sweden.
However, the former Kariobangi Sharks midfielder was left out, with Babu opting to pick Ulinzi Stars’ Emilio Brian as his replacement. It is widely expected that Andreas Odhiambo will be the preferred midfield partner for Kevin Wangaya in Egypt, but missing the services of the former captain will be a huge blow.
Zech Obiero
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The former Tottenham Hotspur academy product was surprisingly left out of the final squad for the tournament despite impressing during his outings for the side after jetting into the country from England, where he plays for Leyton Orient.
Given his ability to play across the front line, the London-born midfielder would have been a versatile option capable of giving Stars solutions during different gamestates, but Babu and his coaching staff cleary thought he would have done more.
As Kenya prepares for battle in a tough group B, Coach Salim Babu’s selections reflect a desire to go with players in peak form and tactical sync. With 14 players having been groomed together since U-18 level, chemistry may prove Kenya’s strongest weapon.
But whether the absence of influential names like Wanzala, Kariuki, and Wilson will haunt the Rising Stars in Egypt remains to be seen. One thing is clear: Babu is banking on cohesion and current form, not past glory or promise.
Only time will tell if the gamble pays off.
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