The national soccer team Harambee Stars is set to face The Gambia in a crucial World Cup Qualifier scheduled Tommorow, Thursday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
KBC TV is set to broadcast the encounter from 10pm East Africa Time.
The Gambia are the hosts and were forced to host the encounter at Allasane Outtara Stadium due to lack of CAF/FIFA accredited facilities at home.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars Captain Michael Olunga believes the team is ready to take on The Gambia whom he said was ‘tough’ team.
‘’Everybody is really looking forward to these two fixtures we know the group is still open,we are facing Gambia which is rising in Africa and also have a good squad so its going to be a good encounter to showcase our worth’’Olunga remarked when the team departed for Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Kenya led by newly appointed head coach Benni Maccarthy will be out to re-assert themselves in the group that’s equally poised.
‘’It’s a new start and the dynamics are different and we have to be patient with the team we have to adopt to the new style of play that the new coach wants us to play to participate so its going to be really a good moment and anticipating what these young Kenyan players can do,hopefully we can go and post positive result’’Olunga said.
Coach Benni McCarthy expressed his delight in the squad he had picked, in his first assignment since his appointment last month.
“I’m thrilled to lead my first two World Cup qualifiers. I’m eager to work with the talented squad I’ve selected for the campaign. There’s plenty of hard work and dedication ahead, but we’re ready to embrace the challenge as a team.”
After the Gambia fixture Kenya will host Gabon on March 23rd at Nyayo national Stadium in the next world cup qualifier
After four rounds Kenya is placed fourth in Group F with five points with a win against Seychelles and two draws against Burundi and Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast tops the pool with 10 points while Gabon and Burundi are placed second and third with 9 and 7 points respectively.
Harambee Stars Squad
Goalkeepers:Ian Otieno,Brian Bwire,Faruk Shikhalo, Defenders: Jonestone Omurwa, Brian Mandela, Daniel Anyembe, Amos Nondi, Erick Ouma, Manzur Okwaro, Ronny Onyango, Midfielders: Anthony Akumu, Richard Odada, Ismael Gonzalez, Timothy Ouma, Eric Johana, Duke Abuya, Mohammed Bajaber, Ben Stanley Omondi,Forwards:, Masud Juma,Jonah Ayunga, Elvis Rupia, John Avire, Michael Olunga
