AFCON U-23: Wangaya Sends Warning to Ivory Coast After Kenya Survives Tanzania

Kenya’s Emerging Stars have advanced to the second round of the AFCON U-23 qualifiers after surviving a tense battle against Tanzania, but captain Kevin Wangaya knows the real test is now coming.

Kenya edged Tanzania 5-4 on aggregate to book a second-round meeting with Ivory Coast after a dramatic two-leg contest that exposed both the strength and weaknesses of the Kenyan side.

The Emerging Stars built a commanding advantage in Nairobi, winning the first leg 4-1. Tanzania responded with a 3-1 victory in the return leg at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, but the hosts could not overturn Kenya’s advantage.

The result secured Kenya’s passage to the next round, although the manner of the second-leg defeat is likely to raise questions ahead of the much tougher assignment against Ivory Coast.

Wangaya Praises Emerging Stars After Tanzania Battle

Speaking after the qualification, captain Kevin Wangaya praised his teammates and the technical bench for holding their nerve during a difficult away fixture.

“First of all, I’m proud of the team and the technical bench. It was a really tough game, but we thank God for the victory,” Wangaya said.

The captain acknowledged that playing away from home presented additional challenges as Tanzania pushed aggressively after falling three goals behind in Nairobi.

“I think it failed because they were home, so it was a bit tough for us, but we gave our best, and that’s the result we got from the game.”

Kenya’s qualification ultimately came down to the advantage earned in Nairobi.

The 4-1 first-leg victory gave the Emerging Stars enough breathing room to withstand Tanzania’s late fightback in Dar es Salaam.

Ivory Coast Now Stands Between Kenya and the Next Stage

The Emerging Stars now face a significantly tougher opponent in Ivory Coast.

The West African side will demand greater discipline, sharper defending and more consistency from Kenya, particularly after Tanzania exposed weaknesses in the return leg.

Wangaya believes the players can use the period before the next international assignment to prepare properly.

He has urged his teammates to remain fit and competitive by working hard for their respective clubs as domestic league action resumes.

“The focus should just be: we try to go back now to our teams and try to focus on working hard for our team since the league is starting, and also to try and be fit for the next challenge ahead of us.”

His message places responsibility on the players to arrive at the next camp in good physical condition.

For Kenya, avoiding complacency will be crucial. The Tanzania tie demonstrated how quickly a comfortable aggregate lead can become vulnerable when an opponent applies sustained pressure.

Against Ivory Coast, such lapses could prove costly.

Wangaya Calls for Patience as Kenya Builds

Despite the concerns raised by the second-leg defeat, Wangaya believes the Emerging Stars are still developing.

The captain asked Kenyan supporters to remain patient as the young squad continues to gain experience at international level.

“All I can tell them is we still have time. We are growing every day. So we’ll try to do our best, and soon we’ll get there.”

The Ivory Coast tie will therefore provide a much clearer test of Kenya’s progress.

The Emerging Stars have already shown that they can build a commanding lead at home. Their next challenge is proving that they can maintain that level against stronger opposition.

For Wangaya and his teammates, the message is straightforward. The Tanzania escape is over. Ivory Coast will offer far less room for mistakes.