Harambee Stars fans in all cheer before yet another limp exit from international competition.
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 26 – The international friendly pitting Harambee Stars and Sudan has been postponed to Tuesday next week on request of the Sudanese Football Association.
The match was scheduled for Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium but had to be moved forward after Sudan failed to arrive in Nairobi on Wednesday night, one day before the build-up match.
“It is true the Sudan F.A has requested that the match be moved to Tuesday, May 31 2016 as the earliest they can arrive in Nairobi is tomorrow (Friday),” Football Kenya Federation CEO Robert Muthomi declared.
Sudan alongside their junior under-20 side, who will play their Kenyan counterparts, are set to arrive Friday at 6:30am.
The Federation announced the Tanzania friendly will be on as scheduled on Sunday with the Taifa Stars expected to arrive Friday.
Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi has named a formidable provisional squad that mostly include local based players as he aims to scout potential players who will feature in the qualifiers.
Among the players called up are Spanish-born Kenyan striker Ismail Gonzalez and rising Australia A-League star Bruce Kamau.
Gonzalez, born of a Spanish mother and a Kenyan father, is eager to earn his first cap after joining training camp at Kasarani stadium on Monday.
“I think it is important that we have a look at all players available, including the two. Talks with Gonzalez have been very positive and he is here with us, let’s see how he will perform,” Okumbi stated.
Okumbi will use both friendlies to prepare for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier where they host Congo June 4 in Nairobi for the return leg, after forcing a 1-1 draw in Brazzaville when the two sides meet in June 2015.
Kenya’s chances of qualifying for the Gabon continental showpiece are slim after failing to win a match in four games to trail Group E on one point with only two fixtures to go.
