Kenya face tricky striker dilemma

Just who should spearhead Harambee Stars attack against Lesotho’s Likuena (Crocodiles) this Sunday?

Kenya - buoyed by Thursday’s significant leap in the monthly Fifa rankings  - was expected to leave Nairobi on Friday morning for the 4,300km trip to Maseru - ahead of Sunday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie.

Kenya moved 13 places up to position 95 on the rankings 36 places above their Sunday opponents.

However uncertainty over the availability of senior players - and especially dependable forward Dennis Oliech, is certain to force Stars coach Adel Amrouche into re-thinking his strategy in this contest set for the Setotso Stadium.

Racing Genk (Belgium) striker Ayub Timbe, El Merreikh’s Allan Wanga, Francis Kahata (Albania), Mungai Kiongera, Jacob Keli and Edwin Lavatsa are the forwards available for selection in Amrouche’s preferred 4-3-3 system of play.

But who among these players deserves the nod upfront?

“I prefer Wanga upfront, with support from Timbe and Lavatsa from the flanks” former Kenya International midfielder Simon Mulama said. “We are playing away and hence need our best finisher, in this case Wanga.”

“Timbe also has excellent dribbling and passing qualities, while Lavatsa is a hard-working guy who will play a significant role when we lose possession,” Mulama, a former Mathare United and Ismailia (Egypt) midfielder said.

Stars have only scored two goals in their last three games, all coming from moments of individual play rather than teamwork. Amrouche and his charges will also have to be wary of Lesotho’s ability to cause upsets in recent times.

The Likuena significantly accounted for Zambia’s failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup, and also eliminated Liberia 2-1 on aggregate in their previous round of 2015 African qualifiers. The second leg is set for Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on August 2.