Migne Challenges Ghana To Prove Their Might Against Harambee Stars
21st March 2019
Kenya head coach maintains the pressure is on the continental giants as his team departs for Accra, Ghana for the final 2019 AFCON qualifier on Saturday
- Stars lead Group F standings on seven points, one ahead of hosts and three-time African champions with both teams through to the Egypt 2019 finals and there is nothing but pride to play for on Saturday
- Olunga is missing from the team that departed for Accra with seasoned forward, Allan Wanga who has netted 22 goals in 44 appearances the most experienced striker in the squad
- After playing in Accra, Stars will return home before travelling to France in May for a three-week training camp ahead of their AFCON campaign during the 32nd edition of the biannual continental football showpiece that will run from June 21 to July 19
NAIROBI, Kenya- Harambee Stars head coach, Sebastien Migne, declared the pressure is all on hosts Black Stars as the national football team departed Nairobi on Thursday morning for their final 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Accra, Ghana on Saturday night.
Stars lead Group F standings on seven points, one ahead of hosts and three-time African champions with both teams through to the Egypt 2019 finals and there is nothing but pride to play for on Saturday.
However, Ghana are seeking to avenge their shock 0-1 to Kenya when the two teams last met on September 8 last year.
Then, a defender John Opuku own goal under pressure from Japan-based forward, Michael Olunga in the 40th minute set Kenya on their way to a memorable victory that inspired their run to make the AFCON finals for the first time since Tunisia 2004.
“We are not under pressure. Even if it were a crucial qualification match, we still would have taken it easy. This will be a chance for me to gauge the players ahead of AFCON,” said coach Migné ahead of departure.
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Olunga is missing from the team that departed for Accra with seasoned forward, Allan Wanga who has netted 22 goals in 44 appearances the most experienced striker in the squad.
Wanga, the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) side Kakamega Homeboyz FC captain, has rediscovered his scoring touch, leading the domestic league's scoring charts with nine for the season in 18 games.
Former SPL sides Kariobangi Sharks FC and Nzoia Sugar FC hitmen, Masud Juma and Pistone Mutamba are the others who will lead Migne's attack against a wounded Ghana side with top spot in the group and pride at stake in Saturday's showdown where Kenya will be captained by Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Victor Wanyama.
Harambee and Black Stars qualification was smoothened by the disqualification of Sierra Leone who are banned from international football by world governing body FIFA from the tournament with Ethiopia in third having gained only a point with no chance of making the AFCON final.
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After playing in Accra, Stars will return home before travelling to France in May for a three-week training camp ahead of their AFCON campaign during the 32nd edition of the biannual continental football showpiece that will run from June 21 to July 19.
Final Squad
Goalkeepers
Patrick Matasi, John Oyemba, Faruk Shikalo
Defenders
Joash Onyango, Musa Mohammed, David Owino, Bernard Ochieng, Brian Mandela, Philemon Otieno, Erick Ouma
Midfielders
Anthony Akumu, Ismael Gonzales, Victor Wanyama, Francis Kahata, Dennis Odhiambo, Johanna Omollo, Erick Johanna, Paul Were, Christopher Mbamba
Forwards
Masud Juma, Pistone Mutamba, Allan Wanga