Kenya U-23 face Egypt in qualifier

Kenya Under-23 will Sunday evening face their Egyptian counterparts in an All Africa Games football qualifying match in Cairo.

And at Machakos County Stadium, Kenya women’s football team will tackle Egypt in a friendly international Sunday afternoon.

Kenya Under-23 arrived in Cairo early Saturday for the date with one of Africa’s top teams and coach Bobby Williamson admits that it will not be an easy task.

“It is a very tough fixture, especially considering the fact that our training sessions have not been that regular but I have asked the team to believe in themselves and give their best during the match,” he said.

The under-23 team in Cairo is missing seven Premier League players who were unable to travel due to club obligations in the Caf Champions League and the Confederation Cup.

MISSING PLAYERS

Michalel Olunga, Timothy Otieno, Bernard Odhiambo and Harun Shakava are in Madagascar with Gor Mahia for the Champions League return match against CNaPS, while Danson Kago, Enoch Agwanda and Collins Shivachi featured for Sofapaka in Saturdays’ Confederation Cup tie against Zimbabwe’s Platinum.

(READ: FC Platinum 2-1 Sofapaka (4-2 agg): Fiston's opener not enough as KPL side bows out of continental football)

The Egyptians are however not strange foes to the Scottish coach who was in charge of Harambee Stars when they lost by a solitary goal to the Pharaos in a friendly match staged in Cairo in September last year.

In Machakos, the women’s team will undertake their first assignment of the season against the Egyptians in preparation for the 2016 Olympic qualifiers against Botswana scheduled for April .

Their opponents arrived in the country on Friday evening. Kenya coach Doreen Nabwire on Saturday told Sunday Nation Sport that they are aiming for a win to boost morale within the squad ahead of the “real” match against Botswana.

“We have been training hard for the match and the entire team is very confident of a win. I know that we shall come up against strong opponents but we shall try our best to contain them and possibly grab a win,” the former Kenya international said.

The local team has been in residential training at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, and will be captained by Cherise Avilia assisted by experienced Neddy Atieno who turns out for Division One Side Kenya Methodist University.