Rising Stars coach reveals when Aldrine Kibet, Amos Wanjala & Stanley Wilson will arrive in camp ahead of U-20 AFCON

Rising Stars head coach has given an update on when key foreign-based players and will be arriving at the camp as the team continues stepping up preparations for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to take place in Egypt later this month.

All three players have played integral roles in making Babu’s charges formidable since the U-18 level, when Kenya got to the final of the in Kisumu in 2023. 

Barring Stanley Wilson, the other two were also integral in helping Kenya seal a ticket to the U-20 AFCON for the first time in the country’s history.

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All three were named as part of Babu’s provisional squad for the upcoming tournament, but they have yet to arrive. Meanwhile, players like Jeremy Bissau, Ruben Grewal and Zech Obiero are already in camp preparing for the tournament.

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Now Babu has given a timeline for when they will join the rest of the team, as Babu prepares to narrow down his list to 21 players who will be representing the country at the tournament.

“The boys have come. We are only waiting for Amos, Stanley and Kibet and once they come, it will be a complete set up,” Babu said on Thursday.

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Meanwhile, the side have been taking part in a series of friendly matches against a number of Premier League teams. They have played City Stars, Ulinzi Stars, Bidco United and Kariobangi Sharks.

Against Ulinzi, they dispatched them 4-0, before settling for a 1-1 draw with Sharks. Babu believes these games have helped the side step up preparations before they jet out to Cairo.

“Tactically, it was a good game (Against Kariobangi Sharks) . The shape is starting to gel. The shape is getting in order,” Babu said.

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“We scored four goals yesterday. Today, we settled for a 1-1 draw. They equalised later but they played well because it was a good game because the shape is starting to form. We want to score and attack and we want to defend.

“If we are playing well against Premier League teams, we can also do so against those teams.”

Babu has highlighted the benefits of taking part in those friendly matches for his charges.

“These friendlies are helping us gague the players and they are making the players select themselves. There are good players we have identified but others have struggled. Others are working on their fitness which is what we want to work on with a number of them.

“However, it is hard to select these players but I know we will select a team Kenyans can be proud of for the AFCON.”