Rising Stars unbowed despite revised ‘tough’ AFCON draw

Kenya is now in Group B which as seven-time champions Nigeria, Morocco and Tunisia, after the Confederation of African Football annulled the initial draw following withdrawal of hosts Ivory Coast.

Initially, Kenya was set to play Sierra Leone, Zambia and holders Senegal, but Tunisia’s entry in the place of Ivory Coast forced a fresh draw.

According to pundits, the second draw is tough for Kenya, but Akhulia, speaking to journalists at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika on Monday, said they have already moved on.

“We have been preparing not only for the teams that we were initially drawn against but for the tournament in general. Even if we were not to meet the teams we will now play in the group stage, we would have probably encountered some of them at later stages because we are looking at going to the knockouts,” said a confident Akhulia.

“We know the dynamics of preparing for North African teams are different, it’s a whole different affair with how you prepare for other teams so we have to adjust accordingly,” added the Bidco United Head Coach.

Spain-based Captain Amos Wanjala is yet to join the team, but Akhulia is not perturbed.

“Wanjala and Andreas are yet to join us but we have been with them from the Under-18 team setup, so this should not worry us much. They are likely to link up with the rest of the team in Morocco before jetting to Cairo,” he elaborated.

The team is set to be hosted by President William Ruto at the State House here in Nairobi tomorrow, ahead of their departure to Morocco for a 10-day camp.

However, with Morocco now confirmed as one of their group opponents, their preparations in the North African football powerhouse have been technically affected.

According to Akhulia, the Rising Stars’ opening match in Cairo against Morocco on May 1 2025, will be a must win to keep them going although the team remains determined to defy the odds on the continental stage.

The team has been actively engaged in friendly matches to boost match fitness, with their most recent being a 3-2 defeat to Kenyan Premier League side Tusker FC on Saturday.

Assistant captain Baron Ochieng echoed his coach’s confidence, expressing the team’s high spirits and strong belief.

“The intensity in camp is high and the boys are confident and ready to face any opponent. We have only one goal: to bring the trophy home. The revised draw is not a hindrance because we are preparing for any opponent,” he noted.

The tournament is scheduled to kick off on April 27, with hosts Egypt playing South Africa.