Kenya U23 head coach Anthony Kimani has revealed how squad familiarity helped the team overcome limited preparation time to secure a convincing 4-1 win over Tanzania in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) first-round qualifier at Nyayo Stadium.Kenya produced a dominant performance, on Monday, to seal a commanding advantage ahead of the return leg set for 6 October in Tanzania.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more news Paul Osama, Lawrence Okoth, Kevin Wangaya and Kelly Madada found the back of the net, with Sheikhan Khamis pulling one back for Tanzania. Okoth, Wangaya and Madada were part of the Kenya U20 squad that featured in the AFCON finals last year in Egypt.##NAJAVA_MECA_9984773##Despite the emphatic scoreline, Kimani said the technical bench had very little time to prepare for the two-legged tie, making continuity within the squad particularly important.“We had very little time to prepare for this crucial tie. So it was very important that we get a group of players that have played together before," he added.The coach explained that the decision to work with players, who had previously featured together, particularly at under-20 level, helped the team develop an understanding quickly and eased their transition into the under-23 setup.Kenya thrash Tanzania to take commanding U23 AFCON qualifier advantageKimani also credited experienced coach Salim Babu for helping the technical bench during the short preparation period, saying his knowledge of the players provided valuable insight. Babu was in charge of the under-20 outfit at last year’s AFCON.“He understands a lot of these players better than us, seeing a lot of them just this week, up close,” Kimani said.The Emerging Stars coach added that Babu played an important role in helping the new technical team understand the players ahead of the crucial encounter.Why Harambee Stars midfielder is not losing sleep over Eritrea drawThe coach was also pleased with the players' ability to execute the plan, with captain Wangaya echoing his assessment after the final whistle.“As he said, we had a plan, and yeah, the plan worked well. I'm so happy for the goal and for the team. Having the victory at home feels so special," Wangaya noted.Wangaya also shared the joy of scoring alongside his close friend and teammate Kelly Madada, who was also on target against Tanzania.“Seeing my best friend score, it's a good feeling because we were in the same room before the game. We had a prayer, and yeah, we psyched each other up, and we said, let's give the country all we can give them,” he said.Duarte questions CAF draw ahead of Guinea, Kenya clashThe winner of the tie will advance to the second round, where Ivory Coast could be waiting.