Kenya crush poor Botswana but bow out on away goal

It was a case of so near yet far for national football team Harambee Stars who crashed out of the 2016 Rio Olympic qualifiers on Saturday at the Nyayo National Stadium courtesy of nothing but the superior away goal scored by Botswana.

It was a nail biting and uncharacteristically entertaining match that ended on a 4-4 aggregate score, but striker Omaatla Kebatho’s first half goal extinguished all of Kenya’s hopes of advancing to the next round.

Lanky striker Michael Olunga sent three past goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko, while John "Softie" Ndirangu added to the four-goal tally that was only one shy of a next round qualification.

“Conceding that goal made things difficult and it is sad how we have lost out on the next round,” said a disappointed Stars coach Bobby Williamson after the match.

The Kenyan boys had begun on high tempo, and the intensity and frequency with which forwards Olunga and Victor Ndinya invaded The Zebra’s half of the pitch suggested that they were indeed the more superior team.

Olunga had missed a header and Ndinya a one on one chance with the Botswana custodian in the opening ten minutes, while the visitors planted themselves deep inside the Stars half in defence. And after 17 minutes of hits and misses, Olunga broke the deadlock with stern left foot touch off Jackson Macharia’s through pass to send the Kenyans side ahead.

EQUALISER

The opponents were however prompt with the equaliser which came three short minutes afterwards through a wonderful set piece completed by Kebatho. Kebatho had scored the first goal during Stars’ 3-0 loss in Lobatse a fortnight ago.

With the scores tied on 1-1, Olunga helped the Stars regain the lead in the 33rd minute when he positioned himself just in front of goal to receive Collins Shivachi’s incoming low cross.

After the breather, Stars Coach Bobby Williamson summoned the fresh legs of John Ndirangu and rested John Nairuka in his place, and the replacement brought with him more pace and a better sense of urgency in the match.

Kariobangi Sharks midfielder Vincent Odongo found the back of the net in the 55th minute much to the delight of the few spectators, but this was ruled offside by the Rwandan referee.

Replacement Njoroge then got the fans back on their feet 22 minutes later with a beauty of a goal scored from outside the 18-yard area.

Olunga would then complete his hat-trick in the final minute of regular time by punishing a sloppy mistake from the Botswana custodian.

Stars were red hot in the six minutes of added time where they required only one more goal, but no amount of pushing counted as the scores read 4-4 at the final whistle.