LESOTHO HURDLE: Kenya banking on foreign-based stars to win Nations Cup qualifier on Sunday

Harambee Stars goalkeeper Arnold Origi. [PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

Kenyan officials are working round the clock to ensure the availability of top players for Sunday’s do-or-die Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho at Nyayo Stadium.

Kenya go into the match needing to win by at least two goals to make it to the group stages of the competition from where they will fight for a place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) said yesterday it had initiated talks with Ajaccio where Dennis Oliech plays, Lillestrom where Arnold Origi is goalkeeper and Ghent, the club of Ayub Timbe so as to have the players available for the fixture.

“FKF is out to secure the three whose clubs are reluctant to release them arguing that qualifiers are not reflected in the Fifa calendar,” said Michael Esakwa, the FKF Chief Executive Officer.

If Oliech is allowed to play, he will be becoming back two months after he was kicked out of the team by coach Adel Amrouche for skipping training sessions.

Thirsty for a spot

Amrouche is himself suspended for one year by the Confederations of African Football (CAF) for allegedly spitting on a match official though the federation has appealed against the suspension.
Wanyama brothers-Victor Wanyama (Southampton) and MacDonald Mariga (Parma, Italy) are not affected and will be available for the match.

Saudi Arabia-based central defender, David Ochieng’, who turns out for Al Tawoon and El-Mereikh’s Allan Wanga have already joined the team.

The winner of the two-legged between Kenya and Lesotho will advance to the group stage, where they will join Gabon, Burkina Faso and Angola in Group C.

The top two teams in each group qualify for the 2015 Afcon Finals set for January-February 2015 in Morocco.

Kenya is thirsty for a spot in the Afcon Finals, having been there five times in the past, the last in 2004 under coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee.

Esakwa called on Kenyans to turn up in large numbers and cheer Harambee Stars to victory in the crucial tie.

“There will be 12 players in the match, 11 players in the pitch and the 12th player is the fa. Fans are important component of the match,” he said.­ [email protected]

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