Kenya U-20 squad out ahead of Cameroon showdown

Harambee Stars trialists Amos Nondi of Gor Mahia and Kariobangi Sharks’ Ovella Ochieng have been included in a provisional 28-man Kenya Under-20 team that will play Cameroon in two international friendly matches.

The team will be handled by former Thika United coach John Kamau.

The list, released Friday, mainly features players from the Kenyan Premier League junior sides including AFC Leopards’ Edwin Mukolwe, Anthony Wambani of Bandari, Jaffery Owiti from Chemelil Sugar and Thika United defender Collins Odhiambo.

Three players from last year’s Secondary School Games football champions Passenga, and one each from former champions Kakamega High School and Laiser Hill also made the junior team.

Kamau said that the friendly matches will be part of Kenya’s early preparations to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

“We want to play as many games as possible so that we can nurture these players ahead of the 2019 Africa Under-20 qualifiers as well as the World Cup. The first step was to identify good players whom we would work with and that is now done. We have a good squad and what remains now is to keep them engaged so that they can grow in their careers,” he said.

Kenya will face Cameroon on December 10 in Yaounde and in Nairobi on December 17.

The Kenyan youngsters were kicked out of the 2017 Caf Under-20 competition for fielding five overage players during their first round of qualifiers against Sudan in April this year.

The Kenyan lads lost 3-1 to South Africa at the Tsakane Stadium in East Rand last Saturday in another friendly match.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers:

Ahmed Musa (Bandari Youth), Edwin Mukolwe (AFC Leopards), George Ochieng (Gituru Secondary), Job Ochieng (Mathare Youth).

Midfielders:

Collins Odhiambo (Thika United), Ezekiel Nyati (Passenga), Prince Boit (Ligi Ndogo), Maingi Muthoka (Kilifi), Baraka Badi (Thika United), Samuel Semo (Korogocho), David Owino (Laiser Hill), Bernard Ouma (Our lady of Fatuma), Anthony Wambani, John Njuguna (Passenga), Teddy Osok (Nairobi Stima), Vincent Wasambo (Kariobangi Sharks), Amos Nondi (Gor Mahia), John Macharia (Kariobangi Sharks), James Kinyanjui (Passenga), Abdallah Ahmed, Chris Owino (Annointed school), Samuel Murunga.

Forwards:

James Mazembe (Kakamega High School), Francis Kinyua (Thika Youth), Ovella Ocheing (Kariobangi Sharks), Masika Musa (Laiser Hill), Peter Kamau (Acakoro), Jaffery Owiti (Chemelil Sugar).