Kenya has been paired against Rwanda in the preliminary round of the 2019 U20 Afcon qualifiers according to fixtures released today by CAF.
Kenya will stage the first leg in the weekend of March 30-31 and April 1-4, 2018 with the return leg in the weekend of April 20-21-22, 2018.
The aggregate winner will face defending champions Zambia in the second round in May 2018.
Zambia, Guinea, Nigeria, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Libya, Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan have been handed a bye in the initial qualifying round.
The final qualifiers are scheduled for July 2018 with eight teams making the tournament slated for Guinea.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has already assembled a provisional team of 30 players after a four-day selection exercise in time to start preparations for the Rwanda match.
The squad entered camp Sunday evening at Karasani Stadium’s Sports View Hotel.
They are booked to play two friendlies against Tanzania in March and another two-legged warm-up versus Egypt later in the month.
The preliminary round fixtures;
Kenya vs Rwanda
Mauritania vs Morocco
Guinea Bissau vs Sierra Leone
Algeria vs Tunisia
Liberia vs Benin
Gabon vs Togo
Ethiopia vs Burundi
Kenya’s provisional squad;
Defenders
Yusuf Mainge (AFC Leopards), Mike Odhiambo (Mathare United), Jimmy Wafula (Police FC), Bonface Onyango (Kakamega High), Ezekiel Nyati (KCB), Vincent Wanyama (Slum Dwellers), Abdul Wahabo (Talanta FC), Patrick Ochieng (Manyatta Kisumu)
Midfielders
John Njuguna (Nakuru Allstars), Elisha Owino (Kisumu Day), Vincent Wasambo (Kariobangi Sharks), Benard Ouma (KCB), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Joshua Otieno (Kakamega High), Henry Juma (Kariobangi Sharks)
Strikers
John Mwangi (Mathare United), Ali Abubakar (Football 4 Good Academy, Uganda), Alex Sunga (Ushuru), Erick Kipkirui (Kariobangi Sharks), Musa Masika (Slum Dwellers), Subri Ahmed (Al Hayat), Zakayo Keegan (Bandari FC), Alvin Mang’eni (Mukumu Boys), Jairus Omondi (Kisumu Day), Marvin Omondi (AFC Leopards), Obadiah Abuto (NYSA)
