Kenya national team, the Harambee Stars, have commenced preparations for the 2022 World Cup qualifier back to back matches against Mali.
Pitted in Group E of the qualifiers to next year’s FIFA World Cup, the Harambee Stars will play as guests to the Eagles in Morocco before welcoming the West Africa in Nairobi in what will be the third and fourth fixtures in the qualifying series.
As part of preparations for what will be a tough encounter, the Kenya players have today held a first training session in Nairobi supervised by head coach Engin Firat and his technical team members.
All local players joined the camp on Thursday and participated in the one light session with the training set to intensify on Friday when several foreign-based counterparts join camp. Five of the foreign region namely Abud Omar, Stanley Okumu, Eric Ouma, Richard Odada, and Ismael Gonzalez will link up with the team in Morocco.
“Today being our first day of residential training, we have had a good session with the players and we will be working extensively to build a team that can gain a positive result against Mali home and away in our 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign,” said Coach Firat.
Kenya play Mali away, in Morocco, on October 7, before traveling back for the home match on October 10, 2021. The team leaves for Morocco on October 4, 2021.
Engin Firat’s met are currently second on the Group E standings on two points, two behind leaders Mali, and level on points with Uganda.
Harambee Stars provisional squad:
Goalkeepers:Ian Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Faruk Shikhalo (KMC, Tanzania), James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars), Brian Bwire (Tusker)
Defenders: Joseph Stanley Okumu (KAA Gent, Belgium), Joash Onyango (Simba, Tanzania), David Odhiambo (Napsa, Zambia), Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks), Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito), Eugene Asike (Tusker), Frank Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Daniel Sakari (Tusker), David Owino (KCB), Abud Omar (AEL Larisa, Greece), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Bolton Omwenga (Kagera Sugar, Tanzania)
Midfielders: Richard Odada (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka), Patila Omoto (Kariobangi Sharks), Ismael Gonzalez (Real Murcia, Spain), Kenneth Muguna (Azam, Tanzania), Duke Abuya (Nkana, Zambia), Keagan Ndemi (Bandari), Boniface Muchiri (Tusker), Regean Otieno (KCB), Erick Zakayo (Tusker), Ovella Ochieng (Marumo Gallants, South Africa), Philip Mayaka (Colorado Rapids, USA), Musa Masika (Wazito), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari)
Forwards: Michael Olunga (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Henry Meja (Tusker, Kenya), Sydney Lokale (Kariobangi Sharks), Erick Kapaito (Kariobangi Sharks)
