Stars could miss crucial players for Lesotho tie

Harambee Stars preparations for this weekend’s crunch Africa Cup of Nations return leg of their second round preliminary clash with Lesotho could suffer a major blow as the bulk of the foreign based players may not join camp after all.

This is because the match does not fall within the Fifa calendar and as such their overseas clubs are not obliged to release them.

Stars will be locking horns with the Crocodiles in the return leg on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium aiming to overturn a one goal deficit to secure passage to the group phase.

The James Nandwa led squad were without a number of European based stars in the 0-1 defeat in Maseru nine days ago and the scenario could replicate itself this weekend.

(READ: Harambee Stars fall to minnows Lesotho)

Long-term lead striker Dennis Oliech (Ajaccio, France), first choice custodian Arnold Origi (Lillestrom, Norway), Ayub Timbe (Racing Genk, Belgium), Johanna Omollo (Lommel United, Belgium) all missed the Maseru defeat and their presence would have been a big boost for the team ahead of the must win Sunday showdown.

Timbe scored Kenya’s goal in Moroni that was enough to secure Stars a ticket to round two of the preliminary qualifiers after a 2-1 aggregate win while Omollo notched in a thunderous goal in the first leg duel against the same opposition in Nairobi.

OLIECH'S HEADACHE

On the other hand, Oliech’s future association with the team is still marred by uncertainty. The French Ligue 2 based forward fell out with banned Stars Algerian born Belgian coach Adel Amrouche and has not featured for the team in recent matches and it remains unclear if he could have a change of heart and don the national colours again in the absence of the temperamental Amrouche.

The Belgian tactician was last week slapped with a twelve-month ban by the Confederation of African Football who in its ruling said that the combustible coach was guilty of spitting on reserve referee in Stars 1-1 draw against Comoros in Moroni.

(READ: How Amrouche’s ill-temper earned him Caf suspension)

Home grown tacticians James Nandwa and Ken Odhiambo are widely expected to take charge of the team’s preparation. The locally based players assembled at the Kasarani residential camp on Monday for what is expected to be an intense work out before the weekend battle.

Kenya recently moved 13 places up to a 95th slot in the latest Fifa rankings and the upward mobility will largely depend on their performances in the forthcoming qualifiers.

Should they sail past Lesotho they will have to improve on the disjointed performances they have put up of late if they are to be part of the top two Group C slots and feature in Morocco next year. The last time they participated in the continental show piece was a decade ago in Tunis - Tunisia.