Rising Stars face South Sudan on Saturday, 19 September afternoon, knowing there is little room for error in their final Group C match of the CECAFA U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Dar es Salaam.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsKenya opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Burundi, while South Sudan suffered a heavier 4-0 loss to the same opponents.Burundi have already secured the group’s top position with six points and a +6 goal difference, while Kenya and South Sudan are both yet to register a point.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968592##The stakes are straightforward; Kenya must beat South Sudan when the two sides meet at Uhuru Stadium at 2:00 PM, to give themselves any chance of advancing.A draw or defeat would leave the Rising Stars without a win, and end their hopes of progressing from Group C.But even victory will not automatically guarantee Kenya a semi final place.Still in the woods: FKF Premier League kick-off postponed once againThe tournament sends the three group winners and the best runner up into the semi finals. The two finalists will then qualify for the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations.That means Kenya's margin of victory could become important.The Rising Stars currently sit on a -2 goal difference, compared with South Sudan's -4.A win would move Kenya above South Sudan, but their final position among the second placed teams will also depend on results and goal differences in Groups A and B.For that reason, Kenya cannot simply settle for edging the game.Kenya learns group opponents for inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and FestivalBrighton Nacheri, who came off the bench against Burundi, knows the scale of the task.“The task tomorrow isn't easy as we want to win, and South Sudan want to win but the best team is the one that will win,” Nacheri said. “We are going to give 120 percent so we can win with three goals and above to qualify for the semifinals, and if we get the chance, to qualify for the final.”The biggest change could come in how Kenya approach the game.Against Burundi, the Rising Stars struggled to penetrate a disciplined defence, and failed to find the net.Coach Gilbert Selebwa has since placed greater emphasis on getting more players into the box, and converting chances.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968715##“From our training today we have focused on how we can have numbers in the box and convert, this being our last game and decision maker, whether we are going to stay here or advance in the tournament,” Selebwa said.He also confirmed that changes are expected in midfield and attack.“We want to attack more and we are going to have more attacking midfielders and strikers, so we'll definitely see some two changes for tomorrow's match,” he added.That could produce a more aggressive Rising Stars side, but it also creates one of the key tactical questions of the match: can Kenya commit more players forward without exposing themselves to South Sudanese counter attacksMotsepe rules out Plan B as East Africa races to ready for AFCON 2027Key battle: Kenya's attack against South Sudan's defenceThe game could ultimately be decided by Kenya's ability to turn possession and attacking numbers into clear chancesBurundi showed how damaging clinical finishing can be against both teams.They scored four against South Sudan before adding two more against Kenya, with Amini Nshimirimana scoring all four of his tournament goals across those two matches.South Sudan, meanwhile, know that defeat will end their campaign.That should make them dangerous despite their opening setback.Kenya therefore cannot afford to approach the game as though South Sudan's 4-0 loss to Burundi makes them an easier opponent.Selebwa has already warned against that assumption.“They lost 4-0 to Burundi, while we lost 2-0, but that does not mean our game against them will be the same. It will be a different ball game altogether,” he said.Homeboyz chairman reveals millions spent during delayed Premier League kick-offThe permutationsKenya's immediate objective is simple: win.After that, the Rising Stars will have to wait for the conclusion of the other groups to determine whether their points and goal difference are sufficient to earn the best runner up position.Group A has Tanzania on three points, with Ethiopia and Rwanda on one each, while Group B has Uganda and Sudan on three points apiece heading into their final group match.The final group matches in all three pools are being played on Saturday, meaning the semi final picture will only become clear after those results.Kenya's best route, therefore, is to win convincingly and give themselves the strongest possible numbers when the second placed teams are compared.Legend Anthony Akumu on what Gor Mahia must do to succeed in CAF Champions LeagueCharacter needed after Burundi setbackFor Selebwa, however, the numbers are only part of the equation.The coach wants his players to respond to the disappointment of Thursday's defeat with character.“I think what is important at this point is how we bring out our character, because it was a painful loss,” he said.The short turnaround leaves little time for Kenya to dwell on what went wrong against Burundi. Instead, the focus has shifted towards producing a more aggressive performance when it matters most.“The boys really want it and hopefully they will convert this energy into the real game tomorrow,” Selebwa added.Abud, Mette on how Tusker's CAF CC qualification will benefit Harambee Stars at 2027 AFCONHe has also called on Kenyans in Dar es Salaam to turn up and support the team.“It’s important that this being a national team, it’s always important for the fans to rally behind the team. For those of them who are here and can be able to come, and keep the numbers up, that would be very important because it is not lost,” he said.For the Rising Stars, the equation is therefore clear: beat South Sudan, attack with purpose and make the victory as convincing as possible.Then they wait to see whether it is enough to keep their U20 AFCON dream alive.
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