Harambee Stars intensive training and preparations ahead of Africa Cup of Nations finals that begin on 21st June will be put to test today (Friday 7th June) when they face off Madagascar in Paris,France.
This will be part of the two friendly matches lined up against Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo on 15th June, 2019, in Madrid, Spain.
The team will then jet out to Cairo, Egypt, on 19th June, 2019, in time for the continental showpiece. Kenya will play her Group C matches at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. The first match will see Harambee Stars face Algeria on June 23. Tanzania will be up next on June 27, before Stars wind up their group stage matches against Senegal on July 1, 2019.
Today’s friendly will be a perfect opportunity for Stars head coach Sebastian Migne to watch and judge his team in a competitive environment after just one week of training in France.
Migne is delighted with the turn-out in his training camp with all the foreign based players available for selection. He will now embark in selecting his final 23 who will travel to Cairo and the rest head back home.
Several departments will attract a lot of competition with the Goalkeeping and midfield appearing a tall order for the technical bench.
Goalkeeping has Ethiopia based Patrick Matasi who will seek to keep his starting position by outshining Joseph Oyemba of Kariobangi Sharks and Yanga- bound and Bandari’s Farouk Shikalo.
Shikalo is in top form and recently helped Bandari win the SportPesa shield title.
The midfield slot has Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama alongside Eric Johanne, Ayub Timbe and Ismael Gonzales. Cliftone Miheso, Johanne Omollo and Teddy Akumu could have a shot in the second half.
Madagascar are one the teams featuring in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
