TIME TO FINISH OFF THE DODOS: Williamson happy with his strikers as Stars tackle Mauritius

Harambee stars striker Michael Olunga takes on Zambia's defenders during their Africa Cup of Nation Qualifier match at Nyayo stadium on Sep.6 2015.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Since Bobby Williamson took over as Harambee Stars coach last year, the team has struggled to score goals in both friendlies and competitive matches.

But last Wednesday’s 5-2 thrashing of Mauritius’ Les Dodos (The Dodos) in a 2018 World Cup qualifier has left the Scot hopeful of a better future.

Williamson will be hoping that his strikers are in the same shape in today’s return match at Kasarani.

Having scored five goals in the first leg, Harambee Stars may have done most of the work for themselves ahead of the return leg.

They might as well just use today’s match to rectify the mistakes they made last week, and be ready for the next round against Cape Verde.

“I am really happy for my strikers after the win against Mauritius. For a long time, they have been under heavy criticism, but that performance does a lot to ease pressure on themselves,” he said.

Kenya’s goals in the first leg were scored by Johanna Omollo who netted a brace, Ayub Timbe, Haroun Shakava and Michael Olunga.

Apart from Olunga, however, the rest of the scorers were not really strikers and so perhaps Williamson’s optimism could be a little bit misplaced. Azam striker Allan Wanga who started the match with Olunga looked out of form, but is likely to start again today as Stars look to send off their lowly ranked opponents.

With the match safely in their hands, Stars need to give their fans confidence. Many of the local fans cannot remember the last time the team won at home. Last month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia ended in a 2-1 loss and many of the tens of thousands of fans who turned up at Nyayo Stadium were a disappointed lot.

The disappointment has generally marked Williamson’s tenure at Harambee Stars. The coach continues to be under a lot of pressure from fans following reports that he is paid a Sh2.5million per month.

If Kenya finish the job against Mauritius today, as expected, they still have a long way to go before making it to the group stages of the competition.

They will have to navigate past Cape Verde — a country that has graced the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations finals — in two legs at home and away next month.

The winner of the Kenya verses Cape Verde tie will then join 20 other winners from round two forming five groups of four teams each in the last round of qualifiers.

The group winners will then proceed to the 2018 World Cup to be held in Russia.