Kenya U20 coach hints at squad changes ahead of final AFCON clash against Nigeria

Kenya U20 assistant coach Anthony Akhulia has hinted at the possibility of tweaking the starting lineup ahead of their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group B match against Nigeria. 

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The team, christened Rising Stars, will seek to sign off the tournament with a win against Nigeria when the two sides clash at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, from 6 pm (East African Time). 

With the team playing for pride following their elimination from the tournament, Akhulia revealed that there is a possibility of giving the players who have not had game time in the past two matches a chance against Nigeria. 

Kevin Oduor, Jackson Imbiakha, Kelly Madada, William Gitamu and Ezekiel Omuri are yet to have a taste of the U20 AFCON, having watched the previous two matches either from the substitutes bench or stands. 

All indications point to Telena Ochieng failing to get minutes, as the left back has not shaken off the knee knock picked up less than three days before the start of the tournament. 

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"Maybe there will be changes in the team. We need to give a few players the chance to play and showcase what they can do in the tournament," revealed Akhulia.

Ahead of the game, Akhulia says the team largely focused on fixing the defence in the two training sessions held after the 3-1 defeat to Tunisia. 

The Kenyan boys have had a frustrating show in Egypt, conceding six goals in two matches and while at it, lost both matches to Morocco (3-2) and Tunisia. 

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The two defeats have since sealed their fate in the tournament. 

"We have tried our best to seal the loopholes at the back. It has been our main undoing so far. We could have done better in the situations which led to our opponents scoring, but we have since addressed that," he added.