Brave Kenya U20 (Rising Stars) Fall to Morocco as Nigeria Edge Tunisia in AFCON U20 Opener

The opening day of the Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) delivered everything it promised and more — goals, drama, VAR controversy, and breathtaking moments. While Kenya’s Rising Stars endured a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Morocco in a thrilling five-goal encounter, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles held firm to claim a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisia in a tight, tactical battle.

Played at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, both Group B clashes showcased the depth of talent in African youth football and set the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament.

Heartbreak for Kenya’s Rising Stars in AFCON Debut
Making their long-awaited debut at the U20 AFCON, Kenya’s Rising Stars were determined to announce their arrival on the continental stage in style. Facing a technically gifted Moroccan side, the young Kenyans showed heart, flair, and glimpses of their enormous potential, even as they fell narrowly short in a pulsating 3-2 defeat.

The game began cautiously, with both teams probing but unwilling to overcommit in the early minutes. Morocco enjoyed more possession, but Kenya created the first real chance through Kevin Wangaya’s speculative long-range effort, which had the Moroccan keeper scrambling.

In the 16th minute, Kenya seized the moment. From a well-delivered set piece, debutant Lawrence Ouma rose above the Moroccan defense to power a header into the net, giving Kenya a dream 1-0 lead and sparking wild celebrations on the touchline.

But Morocco responded with growing intensity. Goalkeeper Benard Oyure had to be at his best to deny a curling free-kick destined for the top corner in the 20th minute. Just as Kenya seemed poised to take their lead into halftime, disaster struck. In the second minute of stoppage time, Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal bundled home an equalizer after a goalmouth scramble. Initially ruled out for a foul, a VAR review overturned the decision — leaving the Rising Stars level at the break.

Second-Half Drama and VAR Controversy
Kenya’s defense was caught cold at the start of the second half. Barely a minute in, Mohamed Yassir Zabiri capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot Morocco ahead at 2-1. The Rising Stars, however, showed impressive character, with tactical substitutions injecting fresh energy into the midfield.

Humphrey Kegengo and Javan Ochieng entered the fray, and slowly, Kenya regained control. Their persistence paid off in the 71st minute when Aldrine Kibet teed up Hassan Beja, who unleashed a screamer from distance to level the score at 2-2 — a goal worthy of the big stage.

But just as the Rising Stars dared to dream of a famous result, VAR intervened once more. In the 78th minute, Morocco pounced on another defensive error, with Reda Laalaoui tapping in what would prove to be the winner.

Kenya refused to fold. In the dying minutes, Oyure produced a heroic penalty save to deny Morocco a fourth, keeping his side’s hopes alive. Despite a late surge and five minutes of added time, the Rising Stars couldn’t find another goal and were forced to settle for a narrow defeat in an electrifying contest.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Edge Past Tunisia
Earlier in the evening, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles got their AFCON U20 campaign off to a solid start with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisia.

It was a cagey affair dominated by midfield battles and physical duels, with clear-cut chances hard to come by. Nigeria, however, made the crucial breakthrough in the 38th minute. A well-timed run from Ibrahim Abdullahi met a delightful pass from Okoro Obinna, and Abdullahi coolly slotted home what would be the only goal of the match.

Tunisia tried to respond, making several second-half substitutions to freshen their attack, but Nigeria’s disciplined backline held firm. The Flying Eagles almost doubled their lead late on, but Tunisian goalkeeper Moez Dendani kept his side in it with a sharp save.

The final whistle confirmed a crucial win for Nigeria, who top Group B after matchday one.

What’s Next
The results leave Group B finely poised. Nigeria sit atop the standings with three points, ahead of Morocco on goal difference. Kenya will now look to regroup quickly as they face Tunisia in a must-win clash on May 4, while Nigeria and Morocco square off in what promises to be a thrilling top-of-the-table battle.

For the Rising Stars, the message is clear: heads up, lessons learned, and eyes firmly on the next challenge. If their spirited performance against Morocco is anything to go by, Kenya’s youngsters have both the talent and heart to turn their fortunes around in this tournament.