Harambee Stars set to face Qatar in first ever assignment

Kenya national team Harambee Stars will take on the Qatari national team on Thursday, 7 September, evening at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah in an international friendly match. This will be the first meeting between the two sides at any stage.

The match is the first of two friendly games lined up for the Stars, with the game against South Sudan at the Moi Kasarani in Nairobi on Tuesday set to follow.

The Stars squad of 24 players left the country on Wednesday morning, and in the evening, they got a feel of the match venue with a short training session ahead of the match against the 2022 World Cup hosts.

The match against the Asian nation and the one to follow against South Sudan are part of Kenya’s preparations for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. The qualifiers start in November, and Kenya have been pooled in group F alongside the Ivory Coast, Seychelles, Gabon, Gambia, and Burundi.

Kenya coach Engin Firat will be hoping for a better performance in Doha after a disastrous outing during June's international break. The Stars featured in a four-team tournament in Mauritius, finishing second from bottom after issuing a walkover to Djibouti and losing to the hosts in what was one of the best world results for the Mauritius.

Qatar named a squad consisting only of local-based players. Stars captain Michael Olunga will be coming up against four of his Al Duhail teammates in a match that coach Firat and a host of players believe will do a lot of good for the team.

"These kinds of games are so important for country football; forget the national team because the reality is that Kenyan football is not really known around the world. This is a big opportunity to show who we are, not only for the national team but also for club football in Qatar. If we give a good show together with the impression that Olunga has given in Qatar,it can open a lot of doors for our players," the Turkish tactician said this during a presser on Monday afternoon.

Harambee Stars captain Olunga says there will be no friendship when he comes up against his Al Duhail teammates.

"There are four players on their national team from Duhail. It will be a good competition; I already told them we would not be friends during the game".

The skipper further believes that the game against Qatar will prepare Kenya well for the World Cup qualifiers.

"In the African football setup, we will go to play away to Ivory Coast and Gabon, and these are hostile environments, and we have to be able to handle these kinds of pressure. It is a good friendship, and I am really looking forward to it," Olunga added.

The match starts at 6:25 p.m.

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Harambee Stars squad in Qatar

Goalkeepers

Ian Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Byrne Odhiambo (KCB), Patrick Matasi (Kenya Police FC)

Defenders

Collins Sichenje (AIK, Sweden), Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims, France), Brian Mandela (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Johnstone Omurwa (Estrela, Portugal), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg, Denmark), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Amos Nondi (Ararat, Armenia), Abud Omar (Kenya Police).

Midfielders

Richard Odada (AaB, Denmark), Teddy Akumu (Sagan Tosu, Japan), Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police), Timothy Ouma (IF Elfsborg, Sweden), Duke Abuya (Singida Fountain Gate, Tanzania), Ayub Masika (Nanjing City Football Club, China), Alfred Scriven (IL Hødd, Norway), Clarke Oduor (Bradford City AFC, England).

Forwards

Moses Shummah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Elvis Rupia (Kenya Police), Michael Olunga (Al Duhail, Qatar), Masud Juma (Al Jabalain, Saudi Arabia)

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