Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat urged to incorporate youngsters from U-20 AFCON bound Rising Stars

Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on Harambee Stars head coach, Engin Firat, to begin integrating members of the Rising Stars into the senior national team following their impressive performance in the U-20 AFCON-CECAFA qualifiers.

The CS made the plea during a celebration held at the Talanta Plaza rooftop on Tuesday, October 22, to honor the Rising Stars, who qualified for their maiden appearance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Under-20 (AFCON).

Despite a 2-1 loss to Tanzania in the qualifiers’ final at the KMC Stadium last Sunday, the Rising Stars' achievement in securing a place at next year's AFCON drew praise from Murkomen, who highlighted their potential for the future of Kenyan football.

"You are the future of Kenyan football, as can be seen from recent media analyses and social media comments. Our coach of the senior team should start integrating some of you into Harambee Stars," Murkomen stated during his address.

He further referenced the example of Spain’s 16-year-old Yamine Lamal, who made headlines at the Euros, scoring a goal and providing four assists. “I believe many of you can do the same for our national team,” he added.

The Rising Stars, coached by Salim Babu, now have their eyes set on bigger ambitions at the continental stage, where the top four finishers will earn a ticket to the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September 2025.

Murkomen expressed confidence that the Rising Stars’ talent and determination could propel them to success at both the continental showpiece and the global tournament.

As the national team prepares for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers with key fixtures against Namibia and Zimbabwe, the integration of these young players into the senior setup could mark the beginning of a new era for Kenyan football.