Charles Nyende
4 June 2011
Can the Harambee Stars do the improbable and win their first African Cup of Nations qualifying tie away from home in almost a decade?
The team’s day of reckoning is on Sunday from 6 pm (Kenyan time) when they face home side Palancas Negras in a Group “J” match at the 50,000 capacity Estadio 11 de Novembro.
Matters look more complicated for the Stars after group rivals Uganda Cranes floored Guinea Bissau 2-0 in the other group game in Kampala on Saturday.
It almost feels like an eternity since Kenya last won a qualifying tie, back in July 5, 2003 when they beat Cape Verde 1-0 in Praia but captain Dennis Oliech, who featured in that win is looking up to the challenge in Luanda.
“We have collected just four points from three matches and cannot afford to drop more points, Angola too cannot afford to lose. This will be a big challenge for both teams and I am looking forward to helping our side to win,” Oliech said.
Kenya should expect their hosts to come at them hammers and tongs. Angola captain Andre Makanga told Cafonline this was a game they had to win or forget about qualifications.
On paper there is little to separate the two sides other than the fact that Angola, at 104, are higher ranked by Fifa than Kenya at 123.
Both sides have struggled to built momentum in the campaign and have been beset by an unsettled bench.
Since the qualifiers began in September last year Stars have been handled by three coaches, Twahir Muhiddin, Jacob Mulee and now Zedekiah Otieno.
Angola hired current coach Zeca Amaral after Frenchman Herve Renard stood down in October following a humiliating 3-0 loss to Uganda in Kampala.
Stars, as has now become the norm, went through a chaotic preparation with player unavailability for training and cancelled international friendly matches making most of the news.
Otieno at least has had five days to work his plan while in Angola. The results are uncertain. What is certain is a vastly changed Stars side from the one that beat Angola 2-0 in Nairobi exactly 71 days ago.
Six players who featured in the Nairobi game including Inter Milan’s Macdonald Mariga, Arnold Origi and Johanne Omollo are not in Luanda for this tie.
Otieno will be picking a new keeper and has the choice of Tusker’s Boniface Oluoch and Jeremiah Onyango of Gor Mahia.
Edgar Ochieng, James Situma and Joseph Shikokoti are the expected starters in defence with recalled Pascal Ochieng and John Njoroge looking in.
They will have to be alert to the threats of the pacy Djalma Campos and deadly Manucho, who scored in Nairobi despite showing uncharacteristic wastefulness from a host of chances.
Recalled Jerry Santos has been mentioned as Mariga’s replacement in midfield. Otieno has also Victor Mugabe, Jamal Mohammed, Titus Mulama, Osborne Monday and Kevin Ochieng to pick in midfield.
Fifa Ranking: 104 – Angola; 123 Kenya.
Head to Head: Angola 3 Kenya 1 (October 8, 2006); Kenya 2 Angola 1 (September 8, 2007); Kenya 2 Angola 1 (March 26, 2011).
Match will be broadcast live on KBC’s Channel One from 6.00pm (Kenyan time).
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