SKIPPER NOT OUT: Wanyama’s red-card will not count towards Lesotho AFCON tie

Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama shown a red card during their friendly match against Burundi on Tuesday at Nyayo National Stadium. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Victor Wanyama’s red-card in Harambee Stars barren draw with Burundi in Tuesday’s friendly will not rule him out of the first-leg of the 2015 AFCON qualifying clash against the Crocodiles of Lesotho, on Sunday in Maseru.

The Southampton midfielder was sent-off just 13 minutes after coming off the bench in the second half for protesting against the centre referee Ssali Mashood’s decision to award the Swallows a free-kick.

Although the Stars captain was cautioned for violating Law 12 (61) in the Fifa Disciplinary Code which states that a player, substitute or substituted player can be sent off if he uses an offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures, Football Kenya Federation media officer John Kariuki says the red-card will not affect his participation in the Maseru tie.

“Wanyama might have been red-carded for an off the ball incident in a Fifa recognised friendly, but that should not worry Kenyans as the caution will not be carried forward to the Lesotho match,” said Kariuki.

“I think the warm-up match also presented a good opportunity for coach (Adel Amrouche) to select his squad and the result is not a reflection of what will happen in Maseru.”

Former Harambee Start captain Musa Otieno said:” The red card was a harsh decision and Wanyama didn’t deserve it unless he bad mouthed the referee. But this being just a friendly (match) and Wanyama being an experienced player, I doubt if the card will affect him on Sunday.”

But when we contacted Amrouche and his assistant James Nandwa to comment on the incident, our calls went unanswered.

Kenya will depart for Maseru tomorrow, ahead of the Sunday tie.

The winner over both legs between will advance to the group stage qualifiers where they will face 2013 runners-up Burkina Faso in a Group C encounter in September before meeting other group rivals Angola and Gabon.