THE STARS SET TO STAR IN LESOTHO

   Kenya national team Harambee stars posing for a photo in a past match.

The just concluded 2014 FIFA World Cup may have left you with some hangovers after maybe your team failed to meet your expectation or your favorite players misfiring in the tournament. This aside, it is now time we come back to our local platform as our national football team, Harambee Stars  prepare to battle it out with Lesotho  for  a spot in next year’s Africa Cup  of Nations to be held  in Morocco from 17^th  January to 8^th  February.

The national team departed to Lesotho today with high expectations of at least making it to the competition. The last time Kenya participated in the tournament was back in 2004 led by the current Football Kenya Federation (FKF)  Technical  Director Jacob Ghost Mulee as their coach, since then it has always been a dream for the national side as they fail to move past the qualifying stages.

Team News

Harambee stars will go into the match with good news after climbing the ladder of FIFA’s latest World ranking released today. The Stars have jumped 13 places up the table to 95^th position and a win against Lesotho will see our country move further up. However, the Stars’ camp is not short of bad news after several key players confirmed to be missing.  First choice keeper Arnold Origi and the country’s leading striker Dennis Oliech are among those to miss the clash after their clubs declined to release them citing the match does not fall on FIFA calendar.  Star striker Johanna Omollo who also scored in the previous round against Comoros is also set to miss the match.
Origi who plays for Lillestrom in Norwegian league expressed his disappointment on the Confederation of African Football for poor scheduling of its matches through his Facebook account ‘Confederation of African Football (Caf) should seriously think on how they plan and set-up their fixtures.’ ‘It's difficult to be released for games outside the dates set by FIFA for international matches. Really DISAPPOINTED to be missing this weekend’s AFCON qualifier.’ Oliech’s Ajaccio also refused to release the striker on the same grounds. The Stars’ will also be forced to play without head coach Adel Amrouche who is still serving his suspension after the ban against Comoros ruling him out for both legs.

Meanwhile, the Lesotho national team also shares the same fate with Kenya as most of their important players are set to miss the clash. Midfielders Ralekoti Mokhahlane and Motlalepula Mofolo as well as one of their top strikers Thapelo Tale are ruled out due to injuries picked from their friendly match against Botswana played on Monday. This will get well for the Harambee Stars as they look to capitalize on that to win the midfield battle.
Available players
Bandari goalkeeper Wilson Obungu has been called to replace Origi with Tusker’s Brian Osumba also included to in the list.
 Goalkeepers: Wilson Obungu, Jerim Onyango
 Defenders: James Situma, David Owino, Joackins Atudo, Dennis Odhiambo, Aboud Omar, Vincent Omumbo
Midfielders: Victor Wanyama, Francis Kahata, McDonald Mariga, Peter Opiyo, Stephen Ocholla, Brian Osumba
Forwards: Harrison Mwendwa, Paul Kiongera, Jacob Keli and Allan Wanga.

The match will be played at the Setsosto Stadium on Sunday starting 4pm Kenyan time with the return leg scheduled on August 2 in Afraha Stadium. The winner between the two after both legs will advance to group C which has Burkina Faso, Angola and Gabon waiting.

All the best for the stars.