Nairobi, Kenya | September 22, 2026

Kenya’s Emerging Stars are set to face Tanzania U23 at Nyayo National Stadium on Monday, September 28, as both sides begin their campaign for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Under-23 tournament in Egypt.

The match will be the first leg of the first-round qualifying tie, with Kenya looking to secure an advantage at home before travelling to Dar es Salaam for the return fixture on October 6.

The two-legged contest will determine which side advances to the second qualifying round, where the winner will face Côte d’Ivoire.

Kenya U23 head coach Anthony Kimani has named a 41-man provisional squad for the tie, featuring a mix of domestic-based players and young talents playing abroad.

Among the notable names included are Celta Vigo midfielder Aldrine Kibet, Cadiz midfielder Jack Onganya, MK Dons forward Brooklyn Kazungu and ADO Den Haag goalkeeper Caleb Kramer.

Several players who represented Kenya at the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt have also been included, giving Kimani a group with previous experience at continental youth level.

The Emerging Stars will now look to make home advantage count before travelling to Tanzania for the second leg.

Tanzania, meanwhile, have been preparing for the regional encounter under head coach Ahmad Ally as they work to assemble their squad ahead of the two matches.

The fixture is expected to attract considerable attention given the longstanding football rivalry between the two neighbouring countries and the importance of the tie in determining their route to the continental tournament.

According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), 42 nations are competing for seven available places alongside hosts Egypt at the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament will also form part of Africa’s qualification pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Kenya will therefore need to progress past Tanzania before turning its attention to the second round and a subsequent meeting with Côte d’Ivoire.

Football Kenya Federation has confirmed the September 28 fixture on its official media platform, with the match scheduled for Nyayo National Stadium.

With the first leg approaching, attention will now turn to Kimani’s final squad selection and preparations as the Emerging Stars prepare for another competitive East African encounter.

The return leg in Dar es Salaam on October 6 will determine which of the two neighbours advances to the second round of the U23 AFCON qualifiers.