Stars enter camp for crucial qualifier match with Black Stars
What you need to know:
- In related news, Harambee Stars could face the Flames of Malawi in a friendly match Sunday afternoon. The match is subject to approval by the Confederation of African Football.
- The Flames of Malawi are preparing for their 2019 Afcon qualifier against Morocco scheduled for September 8, and are expected to leave immediately after the match for Rabat.
Members of the senior national football team converge on Utalii grounds, Nairobi, Sunday evening to start training ahead of a high-stakes 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group “F” qualifier match against Ghana on Saturday.
Foreign-based players have however been given a one-day allowance and are scheduled to report to camp between Sunday and Tuesday as the team prepares to challenge for a ticket to the Afcon finals scheduled for next year in Cameroon.
Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne, who has been away from the country for the last five weeks on personal business, is back in the country and will have just five days to cull the list of 38 players he called down to his best 18 ahead of the Saturday showdown.
The match against Ghana’s Black Stars will be staged at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, this Saturday starting 4pm, and Kenya will be seeking its first victory after falling to a shock 2-1 loss away to Sierra Leone in the first round clash played in June last year.
It will be a tall order for Kenya in the match as Ghana are perched at the top of the group on same number of points as Sierra Leone. The Black Stars thrashed Ethiopia 5-0 in their opening group match in June 2017.
Kenya is third without a point while Ethiopia, who host Sierra Leone on September 9, occupy the bottom spot.
In related news, Harambee Stars could face the Flames of Malawi in a friendly match Sunday afternoon. The match is subject to approval by the Confederation of African Football.
The Flames of Malawi are preparing for their 2019 Afcon qualifier against Morocco scheduled for September 8, and are expected to leave immediately after the match for Rabat.
SQUAD
Foreign-based players: David Owino, Jesse Were, Anthony Akumu (Zesco United, Zambia), David Ochieng’ and Eric Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Erick “Marcelo” Ouma and Ovella Ochieng (Vasalund, Sweden), Johanna Omollo and Abud Omar (Cercle Brugge, Sweden), Ian Otieno (Red Arrows, Zambia), Ismael Gonzalez (CF Fuenlabrada, Spain), Clifton Miheso (Buildcon, Zambia), Musa Mohammed (Nkana, Zambia), Joseph Okumu (AFC Ann Arbor, USA), McDonald Mariga (Real Oviedo, Spain), Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Paul Were (FC Kaisar, Kazakhstan), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg United, South Africa) Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England).
Home-based players: Goalkeepers: Patrick Matasi (Tusker), Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks), Farouk Shikalo (Bandari).
Defenders: Philemon Otieno, Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia), Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Benard Ochieng’ (Vihiga United)
Midfielders: Whyvonne Isuza, Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Francis Kahata, George Odhiambo, Samuel Onyango (Gor Mahia)
Strikers: Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Piston Mutamba (Sofapaka), Allan Wanga (Kakamega Homeboyz), Masud Juma.
