Kibwage hopeful as Kenya plot to complete double over Tanzania

Part of 25 Harambee Stars local-based players taking part in the team’s first training session of the year ahead of the upcoming AFCON and CHAN assignments at Kenya School of Monetary Studies on February 19, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Harambee Stars defender Michael Kibwage believes there will be plenty at stake when the national team locks horns with Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in Sunday’s crunch first leg tie of the 2020 African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifiers, in Dar es Salaam.

The encounter comes barely a month after Kenya twice from behind to beat Taifa Stars 3-2 during the AFCON cum East African derby in Cairo.

Save for a ticket to the next round of the local-based players’ tournament, the two rivals will be battling for the region’s bragging rights.

While Kenya will be seeking to complete a double over Taifa Stars, the hosts will be out to avenge their Cairo loss. The winner on an aggregate of the two-legged encounter will tackle Sudan in the final qualifying round.

Unlike Tanzania, who have retained a majority of their AFCON squad, Kenya has only six of the players who were in Egypt.

They include goalkeeper Kariobangi Sharks goalkeeper John Oyemba, Philemon Otieno, Joash Otieno (Gor Mahia), Bernard Ochieng (Wazito), Dennis Odhiambo and John Avire (Sofapaka).

Even though the Harambee Stars camp is beaming with confidence, the KCB captain, who will be making his official senior team debut, is prepared for a difficult match at the ‘intimidating’ National Stadium.

“The attitude is good and morale is high. We all know what is at stake here. Just like any other derby, this will not be an easy match. Tanzania will definitely be out for revenge, but for us, our aim is to get a positive result and make things easy for ourselves in the return leg,” Kibwage told Standard Sports.

“I believe the intimidating atmosphere at the stadium will motivate us to perform better and prove to them the AFCON win wasn’t a fluke.

“Looking at how we have been training, you can see the quality and the strides we have made in our game. With the mood in the camp, I’m confident we will make Kenyans proud again.”

But for newly-appointed interim Taifa Stars coach Etienne Ndayiragije who doubles up as Azam trainer, this a perfect chance for the Tanzanians to redeem themselves.

“We have started our preparations well and the players have shown quality and character. I’m optimistic that every player will be ready to play,” the Burundian coach was quoted on CAFOnline.com.

“Every game is tough. This is the game that we need to win, it’s a knockout, if you lose you are out, we cannot afford that. We know that Kenya is a good team but we will play well to win and ease the pressure for the return leg.”

Ndayiragije replaced Nigerian Emmanuel Amuneke, who parted ways after with Tanzania Football Federation after a disappointing outing in Egypt where they lost all their three group C matches.

The Burundian has retained Simba trio of Aishi Manula, Erasto Nyoni and John Bocco from the Cairo team. Others are Metacha Mhata (Mbao FC), Kelvin Yondani, Feisal Salum (Yanga), Mudathir Yahya and Frank Domayo (Azam)

Kenya and Tanzania Chan provisional squads

Harambee Stars: John Oyemba (Kariobangi Sharks), Philemon Otieno, Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia), Benard Ochieng (Wazito), Dennis Odhiambo, John Avire (Sofapaka-retained from AFCON squad

James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars), Michael Wanyika (Bandari), Yusuf Mainge, Sharks), Patillah Omoto, Duke Abuya (Kariobangi Sharks), Samuel Onyango, Kenneth Muguna, Nicholas Kipkirui (Gor Mahia), Roy Okal (Mathare United), Mike Kibwage (KCB), Andrew Juma, David Owino (Mathare United), Teddy Osok, Musa Masika, Derrick Otanga, Piston Mutamba (Wazito), Ibrahim Shambi, Enosh Ochieng (Ulinzi Stars)

Taifa Stars: Aishi Manula, Erasto Nyoni, John Bocco (Simba) Metacha Mhata (Mbao), Kelvin Yondani, Feisal Salum (Yanga), Mudathir Yahya and Frank Domayo (Azam)-retained from AFCON

David Mwantika, Frank Domayo, Saloum Abubakar, Masoud Abdallah, Iddy Nado, Shaban Chilunda (Azam), Gadiel Michael, Jonas Mkude, Ibrahim Ajibu, Hassan Diluga (Simba SC), Paul Godfrey , Abdulaziz Makame (Yanga), Salim Aye,Boni Maganga, Juma Kaseja (KMC), Paul Ngalema (Namungo), Iddi Mobi (Police), Ayoub Lyanga (Costal Union), Kelvin John (U17).