Top marksmen out of Congo qualifier
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Wycliffe Kasaya trains at Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday. MARTIN MUKANGU
What you need to know:
- So are French-born striker Dominique Malonga, who plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League, and AC Leopards custodian Chansel Massa, who contributed significantly in his club’s aggregate win over Gor Mahia in the Africa Champions League last March.
- The 53 year former Scottish international says he is seeking an improvement to his last two Afcon campaigns with the Uganda Cranes, in which he lost out on qualification to the continental showpiece on the final day, to Angola in 2012 and Zambia (2013).
Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson Thursday omitted Kenyan Premier League top scorers Victor Abondo and Jacob Keli from the squad that will face Congo away on Sunday.
Congo’s Claude Le Roy also unveiled his legion for this opening clash of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, set for the Stade Marien Ngouabi d’Owando in Owando, some 426km from the country’s capital Brazzaville. Deadly striker Thievy Bifoumbi and the Congolese defender with a Kenyan name - Francis Nganga - are part of Le Roy’s 20 man squad.
So are French-born striker Dominique Malonga, who plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League, and AC Leopards custodian Chansel Massa, who contributed significantly in his club’s aggregate win over Gor Mahia in the Africa Champions League last March.
Williamson seems to have preferred the agility, experience and longevity of Kevin Kimani, Francis Kahata, Paul Were and Collins Okoth over Keli and Abondo who have between them scored 20 goals on the domestic scene in the past four months. Victor Wanyama, Ayub Timbe, David Owino and Allan Wanga are expected to play prominent roles for Stars.
FACED CONGO BEFORE
The 53 year former Scottish international says he is seeking an improvement to his last two Afcon campaigns with the Uganda Cranes, in which he lost out on qualification to the continental showpiece on the final day, to Angola in 2012 and Zambia (2013).
“We need to start positively and pick up something from that game. It is possible. I have faced Congo before and also watched them of late, they are powerful and fast, so we need to keep our concentration.” Williamson told Daily Nation Sport.
