Kenya U23 skipper Kevin Wangaya celebrates after scoring against Eritrea/HANDOUTEmerging Stars captain Kevin Wangaya has called for concentration from his teammates as Kenya prepare to defend a three-goal advantage against Tanzania in the return leg of their 2027 Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations qualifier on October 6.
Kenya head to Dar es Salaam sitting on a commanding 4-1 cushion after tearing Tanzania apart at Nyayo on Monday, with Wangaya producing a captain’s masterclass, scoring once and pulling the strings in two other goals.
The diminutive Nairobi United midfielder orchestrated Kenya’s attacking surge with a decisive cross for Lawrence Okoth’s stoppage-time strike, then delivered the killer blow himself five minutes into the second half to send the Emerging Stars further clear.
“I’m very happy to score in this game and to wear the captain’s armband,” Wangaya said after the match. An early Paul Osama goal sparked Kenya into life; Wangaya kept the momentum surging with the third, and Madada brought down the curtain with the fourth in a stirring display.
For all the brilliance that flowed from his boots, Wangaya remained focused on the bigger prize, making it clear that individual accolades will count for little if Kenya fail to protect their advantage in Dar es Salaam. “I’m also very happy that my best friend Kelly Madada managed to get a goal,” he said.
Tanzania’s penalty had offered a fleeting glimpse of a revival, but Madada quickly snuffed it out, finding the net in the 74th minute to restore Kenya’s commanding three-goal advantage.
Long before Nyayo Stadium erupted, Wangaya and Madada had already laid the foundation for a special afternoon, sharing a room, praying together and exchanging words of encouragement before turning that bond into a commanding performance for Kenya.
“But most of all, I’m happy that Kenya is taking a healthy lead to Dar es Salaam for the second leg,” the captain said.
The three-goal cushion gives Anthony Kimani’s side a valuable buffer heading into Dar es Salaam. However, Wangaya knows Tanzania will have the roar of home support behind them, and Kenya must remain disciplined to keep the door firmly shut.
“Please don’t focus on the two of us; focus on the whole team generally,” Wangaya said, directing praise towards the squad rather than himself and Madada.
The midfielder was a constant menace to Tanzania, coming within inches of a first-half goal when his beautifully curled effort beat the goalkeeper, only to crash against the woodwork.
He would not be denied for long, finding the net after the interval. His commanding performance mirrored the belief coursing through a squad that has retained a strong nucleus from the Under-20 ranks, allowing Kimani to build on an understanding already forged among several of his players.
“We had a prayer, and yeah, we psyched each other up,” Wangaya said of his pre-match preparations with Madada.
Wangaya knows it is not over, with Tanzania returning home with a three-goal deficit and needing a dramatic response to turn things around.
The aggregate winner will advance to the second qualifying round, where Côte d'Ivoire await in November. The qualifiers ultimately lead to the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, which will also serve as Africa's pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games.
“We said, let’s give the country all we can give them,” Wangaya said, recalling the message he and Madada shared before kick-off.
That attitude will be required again in Dar es Salaam, where the Emerging Stars must remain composed and avoid being drawn into a frantic contest as Tanzania attempt to overturn the first-leg deficit.
