After displaying a not so good performance at the African Cup of Nations, Kenya’s national team Harambee Stars are graced with another opportunity to represent the country in a continental tournament.
However, Stars have to go through the qualifier stage before finally making an appearance at the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN). Kenya’s first hurdle en route to CHAN is neighbours Tanzania as the two are set to face off on July 28 in Dar es Salaam.
Coach Sebastien Migne has named the provisional squad that will engage in preparing for the match after which the final squad to travel to Dar will be named.
Defending Kenya Premier League Champions Gor Mahia dominate the list with five players making it to the provisional squad. Defender Philemon Otieno, who featured twice against Algeria and Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations, leads the K’Ogalo contingent that also has Joash Onyango, Samuel Onyango, Kenneth Muguna and Nicholas Kipkirui.
[Read: Mwendwa breaks silence on Harambee Stars AFCON performance]
After veteran Harambee Stars striker Allan Wanga announced his retirement from football, the French tactician had to look at other options to bolster his attack. Especially because top Kenyan attackers like Michael Olunga, Jesse Were and Ayub Timbe will not be available for selection as CHAN only features locally based players.
Ulinzi Stars custodian James Saruni is the surprise inclusion alongside Kariobangi Sharks’ youngster Sydney Lokale who has taken up the place of Allan Wanga.
Surprise omissions are Bandari FC goalie Farouk Shikhalo who was part of the team that represented Kenya at AFCON alongside his teammate Hassan Abdallah. The two are on the transfer radar as they have been recently linked with possible moves to foreign clubs. Shikhalo is linked with Tanzania’s Yanga FC while Abdallah is linked with a move to South Africa’s Maritzburg United. Once they complete these moves, they will not be eligible to represent the country at CHAN.
The team reports to camp on July 19 ahead of the first leg set for July 28 in Dar es Salaam. The return leg will be played at Kasarani on August 4.
The aggregate winner of the two-leg qualifier will meet either Ethiopia or Djibouti in the second and final qualifying round, to be played on a date set to be announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
[See also: AFCON 2019 supremacy rankings: Senegal leads as Kenya plummets]
CHAN Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
John Oyemba (Kariobangi Sharks), James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars)
Defenders
Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia), Yusuf Mainge (AFC Leopards), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia), Benard Ochieng (Wazito), Mike Kibwage (KCB), Andrew Juma (Mathare United), David Owino (Mathare United)
Midfielders
Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka), Teddy Osok (Wazito), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia), Duke Abuya (Kariobangi Sharks), Patillah Omoto (Kariobangi Sharks), Paul Were (AFC Leopards), Samuel Onyango (Gor Mahia), Roy Okal (Mathare United), Whyvone Isuza (AFC Leopards)
Forwards
John Avire (Sofapaka), Musa Masika (Wazito), Nicholas Kipkirui (Gor Mahia), Sydney Lokale (Kariobangi Sharks), Piston Mutamba (Wazito), Enosh Ochieng (Ulinzi Stars)
[Related: Harambee Stars fizzes to despair in uninspiring AFCON defeat]
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