Situma, Wanga roast Togolese Sparrow Hawks for dinner

Kenya began their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo at Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday by registering a crucial 2-1 victory without midfielder McDonald Mariga but with plenty of conviction.

James Situma opened the account for Harambee Stars in the first half and Allan Wanga scored the winner in the second in the charged late afternoon match.

Coach Francis Kimanzi was upbeat of downing the Sparrow Hawks, whose star captain Emmanuel Adebayor did not play.

Kimanzi had said on Tuesday after a training session: “We have prepared every single detail for the match. We are focused and ready for battle. The players are looking sharp and confident.”

For a midweek international, the attendance was commendable: almost the entire stadium was filled with excited Kenya fans.

A slim victory was not the best result, given the Kenyans conceded an away goal, but it was very crucial.

Even the absence of Adebayor and Mariga did not dampen the spirit of the fans.

Kenya had beaten Togo 3-0 the last time the two sides met in Nairobi and the home supporters expected a repeat of the same.

Mariga’s fans were dressed in Parma and Celtic jerseys while Oliech too had his fans donning blue AJ Auxerre shirts.

Stars sponsors Kenya Breweries Limited had decorated the stadium with the Tusker brand with most fans also being given Tusker headscarfs.

“Tumekuja kushinda Togo. Watakiona,’’ (we are here to beat Togo, they should brace themselves),’’ said Dick Otieno, one of Stars fanatics.

And when James Situma headed home a Titus Mulama corner in the 26th minute, Otieno must have danced on his seat.

Then another goal in the 30th courtesy of Dennis Odhiambo was disallowed to the chargrin of the fans and Kenyan players too.

But Allan Wanga gave Kenya the win in the second half and while Kenya will feel under pressure in the return leg in Lome, at least they had a win. And they celebrated it too.

Elsewhere, Cape Verde all but booked their place in the final round of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying when beating a poor Madagascar 4-0 in Antananarivo.

Ryan Mendes opened the scoring in the first leg of the first round tie before Dady doubled the lead after 39 minutes.

With the hosts down to 10 men, Fernando Varela and namesake Tony added further goals in the second half.

Nigeria were held to a goalless draw in Rwanda while Tanzania drew 1-1 at home to Mozambique .

Playing their first competitive match under new coach Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles were fortunate not to concede late on following some heavy pressure from the hosts.

In another earlier game, Ethiopia and Benin played out a 0-0 draw in Addis Ababa.

Additional reporting by AFP