Silver Lining for Kenya as Rising Stars Midfielder Is Named Among Africa's Finest at AFCON U20

Kenya may have exited the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations at the group stage but some of their players left a lasting mark.

Rising Stars left the tournament after a 3-2 loss to Morocco, followed by a 3-1 defeat to Tunisia before a 2-2 draw against Nigeria.

However, a number of players showed their class with some now attracting interest from clubs in Kenya and beyond.

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Among them is midfielder Kevin Wangaya whose eye-catching performances have not gone unnoticed.

Wangaya has been named in the AFCON U20 Team of the Group Stage, making the best XI that had an impressive display in the first round of the continental competition.

The Kenyan midfielder was named alongside Zambian goalkeeper Levison Banda, defenders Nathaniel Jalloh (Sierra Leone), Odinaka Okoro (Nigeria), Daniel Bameyi (Nigeria) and Dacosta Antwi (Ghana).

He was among the three midfielders who were deemed to have impressed alongside South Africa’s Lazola Maku and Momoh Kamara from Sierra Leone while in attack, Joseph Sabobo (Zambia), Othmane Maamma (Morocco) and Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa (DR Congo) completed the team.

Wangaya scored one goal and provided an assist, netting after six minutes against Nigeria, that coming after setting up one goal in Kenya’s opening match with Morocco. He was also named Man of the Match in Kenya’s loss to Tunisia.

A defensive midfielder, Wangaya also possesses the ability to play further forward, and his ball-carrying abilities have made him an attractive prospect for teams.

The former Kariobangi Sharks star was the only unattached player in Salim Babu’s squad but after his heroics in Egypt, it will not be long before he gets a club.