Kenyan midfielder named in U-20 AFCON group stage Best XI

Rising Stars midfielder Kevin Wangaya has been named in the official Best XI of the group stage at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2025, as announced by the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG).

The midfielder had a tournament of his dreams, scoring once and assisting once in Kenya’s debut appearance at the tournament, which unfortunately ended at the group stage.

Wangaya, who played in a deep central midfield position, bagged an assist in Kenya’s first group stage match against Morocco, before scoring a penalty in their final match against Nigeria.

In the latter, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Wangaya was awarded the game’s man-of-the-match and earned plaudits for his overall command of the game.

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Being unattached, Wangaya told Mozzart Sport he was hopeful of gaining offers, given his display in Cairo.

He said: "I am happy with my performances and the support the team gave me on and off the pitch. What I did on the pitch is there for all to see. I remain hopeful of getting offers."

He is the only Kenyan to be included in the Best XI, which also has group-stage top-scorer Momoh Kamara in it.

The Sierra Leone playmaker joins Wangaya and South Africa’s Lazola Maku in midfield, having topped the goal-scoring chart after the pool stage with four goals.

In other positions, Zambia’s Levison Banda was named Best Goalkeeper, with the defensive line comprising Nigeria’s Odinaka Okoro and Daniel Bameyi, Ghana’s Dacosta Antwi, and Sierra Leone’s Nathaniel Jalloh.

Further up the pitch, Morocco’s Othmane Maamma and Zambia’s Joseph Sabobo serve as wide-men to DR Congo forward Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa, who finished the group-stage with two goals.