Kenya will be a guest nation at the COSAFA Under-17 Championships in Mauritius later this month after Mozambique withdrew from the competition.

The Young Mambas are unable to send a team due to a commitment they have to a youth tournament in the Cape Verde that clashes with the Southern African championship.

Kenya are no strangers to participating in COSAFA tournaments, they took part in the 2013 COSAFA Castle Cup for senior national teams, as well as the Under-20 championship that was played later that year, where they lost in the final to South Africa.

Kenya will be placed in Group B at the COSAFA Under-17 Championships that begin on July 22 along with Zambia, Malawi and Madagascar.

They will need to finish in the top two in the pool to make the semifinals, with the deciding match of the tournament to be played on July 31.

Kenya will use the regional championship to prepare for their African Under-17 Championships qualifier against Cameroon, the first leg of which will be played on the weekend of August 5/6, one week after the COSAFA Under-17 Championships.