Harambee Stars Optimistic About Tonight's AFCON Qualifier Clash With Unbeaten Comoros
By: Absalom Mulama
Posted on Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Kenya hosts Comoros in the 2022 African Confederations Cup (Afcon) qualifiers at 7pm tonight at The Moi International Sports Stadium, Kasarani. The Harambee Stars step into this match at 3rdplace in their group, coming from two draws with Egypt and Togo. Comoros’ Les Coelecantesare leading the group having beaten Togo and drawn with Egypt.
Tonight’s match is the first of a two-round contest, both home and away, with the match in Comoros scheduled for 15thNovember. The Comoros team jetted in yesterday, just over 24 hours before the game while Harambee stars have had a new coach for just over two weeks.
Coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee took over the team in late October, and has since made clear his plans to make Kenya excel at the Continental level. Speaking in an interview with Goal.com, Mulee said, “It’s not going to be easy.” Adding that the Comoros players are more experienced but the Harambee stars players show potential. “Most of their players play abroad so it will be a difficult match. But, looking at what our team has achieved in recent times, it gives me confidence that we can get a positive result.”
Quoted on Goal.com, Mulee mentioned that he is not troubled by missing Kenya’s super striker Michael Olunga. The Harambee Stars international and Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol top goal scorer was not able to join the team due to the Covid-19 situation in his country. Reysol had made it mandatory for its players to get tested after their coach, Nelsinho Baptista and two players tested positive for the virus. Olunga will end up missing the game as he has to self-isolate while waiting for the results.
However, Mulee says that he has options of players who can fill the striker’s place. He told Goal.com, “We knew almost two weeks ago that Olunga will not come for the qualifier against Comoros, it was very obvious because of the Covid-19 situation in the country [where he plays football] and what happened to his club,” referring to incident of their coach contracting covid-19.
He added, “As Kenyans, we have a way of doing things and I think we have other strikers [in the squad] who can take the mantle and do the job well, we cannot cry over spilled milk, we have to work with the players we have and I know they will step in and do the job.” Massoud Juma is another one of Kenya's strikers with internatonal experience. With Olunga's absence, Mulee might give him a chance tonight.
Victor Wanyama, the other international player currently in Canada’s Montreal Impact, will most likely captain the team into tonight’s game. The former Tottenham defensive midfielder jetted in on Monday night, and has managed to attend one training session with the team. Harambee stars’ legend goalkeeper, Arnold Origi is also in tonight’s team to face Comoros. Origi plays for Finland’s Helsinki IFK and is one of the key players for Kenya tonight.
Due to the government’s Covid-19 regulations, the game will be played behind closed doors, so fans will not be allowed into the stadium. Tonight’s winner will top the group while a draw will see the group remain as it stands, with a point to each team. The second round of the two-game clash will be played on 15thNovember at the Stade Omnisports de Malouzini in Comoros.
