Stars’ last hurrah!
Harambee Stars arrived in Lome, Togo, on Saturday hoping to exit the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier with dignity when they play the hosts in their final game today.
Kenya, who met their end of the road in Nairobi on Wednesday after settling to a 1-1 draw with Egypt, are expected to be a composed side as they have nothing to lose against the Sparrow Hawks who have also been eliminated.
But be it as it may, Stars should strive to get a decent result since this will count much in Fifa rankings.
Against Egypt, who alongside Comoros Islands have qualified in Group G, Stars gave in as much as they received and the team coach Jacob “Ghost’’ Mulee should seize the opportunity to field untested players to get the experience of playing at the big stage.
Togo held Kenya 1-1 in the first leg match in Nairobi last year and now that they will be playing at their own backyard, they are expected to give Harambee Stars a torrid time also in their quest to exit the qualifiers honourably.
Few hours after they arrived in Lome, Stars had a feel of the 40,000 sitter Stade De Kegue as they wrap up their final group G qualifier match.
In the meantime, Mulee has commended the team on their performance against Egypt in Nairobi.
“The team showed immense confidence in the game and it gives me hope of a positive result as we face Togo and in the other upcoming competitions ahead in the calendar,” said Mulee.
In a related development, influential midfielder Kenneth Muguna of Gor Mahia and Teddy Akumu of South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs were omitted from the Stars squad to Lome after picking up injuries in the match against Egypt.
AFC Leopards’ utility man Clyde Senaji has been called up to the team in place of Johnstone Omurwa who has been ruled out of the match through suspension.
The rest of the team largely features players who did duty against Egypt 1.7 per game.
