Kenya’s Emerging Stars face a challenging start to their COSAFA Cup campaign as they go up against seven-time champions Zambia at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
Kenya’s squad comprises several young, talented players eager to make an impact in this tournament, where the East African nation is one of the invited teams.
Preview
Kenya previously participated in the COSAFA Cup in 2013, debuting in the competition held in Zambia. Although they exited in the first round, their performance hinted at the potential to become a significant contender in future tournaments.
In 2013, Kenya started with a 2-2 draw against Lesotho, followed by a 2-0 victory over Eswatini. However, their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages were dashed by a 2-1 defeat to Botswana.
This year, Kenya has been placed in Group B alongside record seven-time winners Zambia, who have won the trophy for the past two years, as well as Zimbabwe and the Comoros Islands.
Thursday’s opening match will be a tough challenge, as Zambia has consistently proven to be a formidable opponent. Historically, Kenya has struggled against Zambia, losing 21 out of their 34 encounters and winning only six. However, Kenya did secure a 2-1 victory in their last meeting in October 2020 during a friendly match.
Time and Viewing Information
The match will kick off at 7 PM Kenyan time and will be broadcast live on SuperSport TV, with selected games available on SABC and SABC Sport. Additionally, all matches will be streamed live for free on FIFA+.
