The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations is finally here. Hosts Egypt kick off the footballing extravaganza when they face Zimbabwe today at Cairo International Stadium. The showpiece event will end on July 19 with the top team earning the African champions accolade.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga paid a surprise visit to Harambee Stars just a day before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
Accompanied by Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Kenyan Ambassador to Egypt Joff Otieno, the former Premier threw his weight behind the national team who are returning to the continental stage for the first time after 14 years.
Stars will kick off their Group C campaign with a tricky match against Algeria on Sunday then take on fellow East African neighbours Tanzania with a final group stage clash against Senegal.
Raila, a football fanatic who supports Gor Mahia locally and trophy-starved Arsenal in the English Premier League, challenged Stars to prove to the rest of the world that Kenyan football has come of age.
“Today I have come to show my support to Harambee Stars as they represent us at Afcon after 15 years. We want them to give a good account of themselves and show that Kenyan football has come of age.”
“Our message was to give them (Harambee Stars) morale, to tell them that the entire nation is behind them and we want them to carry the flag very high,” the former Premier said.
Kenya will play Taifa Stars of Tanzania onJune 27, then Senegal on July 1.
Harambee Stars last participated in the Afcon in 2004 where they won only one group stage match against Burkina Faso.
The Kenya national team has arrived in Cairo, Egypt, ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off Friday, 21 June and concludes on 19 July.
According to Football Kenya, the Harambee Stars arrived at their base after the team’s 19-day residential camp in France.
Captain Victor Wanyama is set to lead team in the continental showpiece which Kenya will be taking part in for the first time in 15 years.
Kenya played two friendly matches in Europe, winning 1-0 against Madagascar and sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw with the DRC, in the run-up to the tourney.
The team is set to hold a light training session on Wednesday as the clock ticks towards the opening match against Algeria.
Harambee Stars has been pooled in Group C alongside Algeria, Senegal, and Tanzania.
The first match will be against Algeria on June 23. Tanzania will be up next on June 27, before Kenya winds up her group stage matches against Senegal on July 1, 2019.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will participate in the 2019 Afcon in Egypt with the desire to be called Kings of Africa again after missing out on two successive tournaments in 2015 and 2017.
Their last appearance came at the 2013 edition held in South Africa, the late Stephen Keshi who was at the helm masterminded a win in the final.
The West African nation have won the Afcon title three times 1980, 1994 and 2013.
In April 1994, the Super Eagles were ranked 5th in the Fifa rankings, the highest Fifa ranking position ever achieved by an African football team.
Throughout history, the team has participated 18 times at the Africa Cup of Nations.
But the question in many people’s minds is whether the current Nigerian side have the quality to dismantle teams and win the Afcon trophy.
Gernot Rohr’s charges missed out on qualification last time, but will be determined to make a mark and bring a smile on Nigerian faces once again.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Semi Ajayi were axed from Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after Rohr released his final 23-man list on Sunday.
The two players were unused substitutes last Saturday as Zimbabwe held the Super Eagles to a goalless draw at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
Of course on paper, Nigeria have a pretty strong squad. Rohr has the much-needed experience in Skipper John Obi Mikel, Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo to bag a fourth title for the Super Eagles, but if the performance agains Zambia was anything to go by, then the Super Eagles will have to pull their socks.
Rohr also has options in Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, Stoke City midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo also is an added option and brings quality to the squad.
In defence, they have the solid pair of William Troost-Ekong who plays for Serie A side Udinese FC and Brighton’s Leon Balogun and Leganes defender Kenneth Omeruo.
In the goalkeeper department, there is quality and any of the three, Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi can start between the posts.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group B of the continental showpiece and will begin their campaign against Burundi in Alexandria on June 22.
They will later wrap up their group outings with fixtures against Guinea on June 26 and Madagascar on June 30.
Super Eagles squad:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa).
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal, Spain).
The Cranes of Uganda defeated Ivory Coast 0-1 in a pre-Afcon friendly played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi Saturday.
Farouk Miya’s penalty goal was all that was needed for the Cranes to register a famous win in their last preparation match before they take to the field on 22 June against DRC.
Ivory Coast coach Ibrahim Kamara started Nicolas Pepe, Jonathan Kodjia and Max Gradel upfront in a 4-3-3 formation while Zaha and Bony started the game on the bench.
On the other hand, Sebastian Desabre had Farouk Miya and Lumala Abdu spearheading a 4-4-2 attack.
It was Uganda who took the lead with a Farouk Miya penalty in 35 minutes to give Uganda a lead against the mighty Elephants.
FUFA
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It is Half time
Miya goal seperates the two sides
Ivory Coast 0-1 @UgandaCranes
Defender Musa Mohammed has been ruled out of the Harambee Stars friendly match against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday.
Stars who are camping in France ahead of the continental showpiece — the Africa Cup of Nations — will face off with DRC in their second and final pre-Afcon friendly match away in Madrid, Spain.
The Nkana FC defender is still recovering from an injury and Coach Sébastien Migne has made a pronouncement that he will not be risking his main back up after Brian Mandela was rule out of the forthcoming championship.
“We will not risk fielding Musa because our priority is our match against Algeria. In his absence we have an opportunity to see what other players can offer,” Migne said.
The match, slated for Saturday, June 15, 2019, at the Estadio de Santa Ana in Madrid, Spain, starting at 7pm EAT, comes after Kenya beat Madagascar 1-0 in the first pre-Afcon friendly played on Friday last week.
Mine has expressed optimism that Musa will be fit in time for Afcon and that he has enough depth to plug in the void.
Migne further issued a rallying call to fans to create a positive vibe around the national team as they prepare to go back to the continental stage for the first time in 15 years.
“Don’t forget where we were one year ago. The players have achieved something fantastic. We are not a high-level team, we are on the way, and we can only get to the top if Kenyans support us,” he said.
The team is currently in the second of its three-week camp at the French Rugby Federation in Paris, France.
Ahead of the friendly match, Stars will jet out to Madrid on Saturday and are scheduled to arrive in Spain at 2pm.
The team will then fly back to France on Sunday, three days before their scheduled departure to Cairo, Egypt, on June 19, 2019.
Christopher Mbamba will have to wait a little longer for his maiden appearance in Kenyan colours after the Swedish-based attacker was axed from the 23-man Harambee Stars squad heading to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mbamba missed the chance to make his Stars debut in the final Afcon qualifying match against Black Stars of Ghana away in Accra due to hitches in his travel documents.
And after landing his second consecutive call up, Mbamba who has featured for the Swedish junior side, once again missed the opportunity after he was omitted from the final squad with an injury.
Coach Sebastien Migne also surprised the nation once again when he dropped Zesco United midfielder Anthony Akumu who is among the four players dropped by the Frenchman.
Brian Mandela, based in South Africa was ruled out of the June tourney after he picked a nasty knee injury on Monday. He will be joined in the plane back home by Clifton Miheso who plies his trade in Portugal.
Instead of Akumu, Migne opted for David Odhiambo and Captain Victor Wanyama as holding midfielders while Erick Johanna, Ayub Timbe, Francis Kahata, Ismael Gonzalez, Ovella Ochieng, Paul Were and Johanna Omollo will battle for starting places in the attacking option.
Musa Mohammed made the cut despite earlier injury scares.
Harambee Stars will play the Democratic of Congo in Madrid, Spain, on June 15 in the last friendly match before the team fly to Cairo, Egypt, for the Afcon finals.
In the first build up match, Stars beat Madagascar by a solitary goal scored by Wanyama from the spot.
Stars are currently in France where they’ve been camping for the last two weeks.
Dropped: Christopher Mbamba, Anthony Akumu, Clifton Miheso and Brian Mandela.
Harambee Stars will take full advantage of the serene and quit environment at the Marcoussis Cedex during their three-week training in France ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, says Coach Sebastien Migne.
Stars safely jetted into Paris on Friday and held two sessions on Saturday and Migne was impressed by the weather at the French Rugby Federation centre.
“Our location here is favourable. The weather is good and the environment is also free of distractions. We are now working on getting everyone both physically and tactically ready for AFCON,” said the French tactician.
The team held a recovery session on Saturday morning as they officially got their programme underway.
Seventeen players have checked into camp, among them Ismael Gonzalez and Abud Omar who linked up with the team in France.
Zambia-based duo of Anthony Akumu and David Owino have also checked in. The remaining contingent including Captain Victor Wanyama are set to report to camp in the course of next week.
Wanyama is set to fly to France after the Champions League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
Afcon squad
Goalkeepers
Patrick Matasi, John Oyemba, Faruk Shikalo.
Defenders
Abud Omar, Joash Onyango, Joseph Okumu, Musa Mohammed, David Owino, Bernard Ochieng, Brian Mandela, Philemon Otieno, Eric Ouma.
Midfielders
Victor Wanyama, Anthony Akumu, Ismael Gonzalez, Ayub Timbe, Francis Kahata, Ovella Ochieng, Dennis Odhiambo, Eric Johanna, Paul Were, Cliffton Miheso, Johanna Omollo.
Forwards
John Avire, Masud Juma, Christopher Mbamba, Michael Olunga.
Sebastien Migne has once again shocked the nation after he omitted the Kenyan Premier League leading scorer, Allan Wanga, from the 26-man squad set to jet out of the country on Friday for a three-week camp in France, ahead of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt.
Migne instead went for the services of former Kariobangi Sharks striker Masoud Juma, currently unattached after he broke links with Libyan champions Al Nasr last week.
He also favoured the youthful John Avire of Sofapaka instead of the proven goal-poacher Wanga who has also played in the Tanzanian, Angolan and Sudanese leagues.
Juma who has changed clubs four times since January 2018, has not played competitive club football since December 2019, the last time he featured for his former club Dibba Al Furairrah of United Arabs Emirates.
Juma has been training quietly in Kenya with Sharks until early this week when he came out to announce that he has terminated his contract with Al Nasr that he joined early in the year from UAE.
Despite lack of match fitness, Migne still picked the 2017 KPL Golden Boot winner ahead of the current league top scorer Wanga who has netted 18 goals for Kakamega Homeboyz, one better that Masoud’s tally two years ago, for the continental showpiece set to kick off on June 23 in Cairo.
Should Ulinzi Stars striker Enosh Ochieng fails to find the back of the net in the only remaining KPL match on Sunday against relegated Mount Kenya United, Wanga will be crowned the league’s top scorer.
It is not yet clear why Migne, who came under fire after he dropped Jesse Were, the Zesco United leading scorer in the Zambian Premier League, from the provisional squad crossed Wanga’s name with the red pen though age could have played a part considering that Kenya has been pooled in a tough group that has Senegal, Algeria and Tanzania.
In the absence of Wanga, Japan based Michael Olunga will lead the attack with Masoud and Avire, who has seven league goals, as substitutes.
Cristopher Mbamba and Ismael Gonzalez also made it to the 26-man squad to be captained by Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama.
Migne has already made it clear that he will use Patrick Matasi as his number one goalkeeper. That means that Bandari custodian Farouk Shikhalo and John Oyemba of Kariobangi Sharks will provide the cover.
Also chopped from the squad is AFC Leopards midfielder Whyvonne Isuza and Kariobangi Sharks goalkeeper Brian Bwire.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, while handing over the flag to the team challenged players to be good ambassadors for the country even if they do not win the finals with Uhuru emphasizing that it is not about the winning but about giving their best.
Full squad
Patrick Matasi, John Oyemba, Farouk Shikhalo, Anthony Akumu, Ismael Gonzalez, John Avire, Masoud Juma, Victor Wanyama Michael Olunga, Ovella Ochieng, Francis Kahata, Christoher Mbamba, Joash Onyango, Joseph Okumu, Ayub Timbe, Musa Mohammed, David Owino, Bernard Ochieng, Dennis Odhiambo, Eric Johanna, Brian Mandela, Paul Were, Philemon Otieno, Erick Ouma, Johanna Omollo, David Owino.
Coach Sebastien Migne held his first training session Monday with the national team, Harambee Stars, ahead of the planned three-week camp in France in the build up to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations set to be staged in Cairo, Egypt from June.
Musa Mohammed, Cliffton Miheso and Libya-based Masud Juma are among players who took part in the session.
Stars are scheduled to jet out to Paris, on June 3 to the French Rugby Federation, Marcoussis Cedex, before flying out to Cairo Egypt, on June 19, in time for the continental showpiece.
Football Kenya Federation has also secured two friendly matches in France, against Madagascar on June 7, and the Gambia a week later, on June 15.
Kenya will play her Group C matches at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. The first match will see Stars face Algeria on June 23. Tanzania will be up next on June 27, before Harambee Stars wind it up with a match against Senegal on July 1, 2019.
Migne has also named team for the Africa Nations Championships Qualifier against Burundi set to be played in August 2019.
The winner of the tie on aggregate will face off with either Tanzania or Sudan in the second and final qualifying round of the tournament, set to be held in Ethiopia in January 2020.
Kenya will be looking to make a maiden appearance at the 16-team tourney reserved exclusively for players actively featuring in their respective national championships.
Here is a list of players who took part in Monday’s session, according to communication from FKF media unit.
Goalkeepers
John Oyemba, Brian Bwire.
Defenders
David Ochieng, Charles Momanyi, Eric Juma, Musa Mohammed, Mike Kibwage.
Midfielders
Dennis Odhiambo, Joe Waithira, Teddy Osok, Duke Abuya, Cliffton Miheso, Ibrahim Shambi, Paul Were.
Forwards
John Avire, Enosh Ochieng, Pistone Mutamba, Masud Juma.