Kenya lose to Namibia, Nigeria draws

ROBIN TOSKIN and REUTERS

Henrico Botes’ 75th minute strike ended Kenya’s resolute performance in Windhoek, Namibia in the 2014 World Cup qualifier.

Coach Francis Kimanzi made four changes to the side that drew 0-0 at home to Malawi, bringing in goalkeeper Arnold Origi in place of Boniface Oluoch, Joseph Shikokoti for Clifford Miheso, Dennis Nzomo for Jamal Mohamed and Kevin Ochieng for Kevin Kimani.

Dennis Oliech went close to opening the scores on 49 minutes after a nice first touch only to skew his attempt.

Nigeria, who drew 1-1 away in Malawi top Group F with four points followed by Namibia on three while Malawi with two are third. Harambee Stars head to Togo for the return leg of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup, carrying a 2-1 lead from the first leg played here in Nairobi on February 29.

In Blantyre, Nigeria’s draw follows a narrow, and late, triumph in their opening qualifier Namibia at home last weekend.

Midfielder Reuben Gabriel scored in second half stoppage time to seemingly again hand Nigeria a late victory for a second successive week, only for Malawi substitute John Banda to equalise a minute later.

Nigeria, who have been to four of the last five World Cup finals, were expected to dominate the group, but laboured again to add to the largely ineffective performance in Calabar last Sunday, when they needed an 80th minute goal from Spanish-based striker Ike Uche to take all three points.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the last African Nations Cup and have largely overhauled their team under new coach Stephen Keshi, with former England Under-21 international Victor Moses among the new faces in the side.

Elsewhere, African champions Zambia put their 2014 World Cup campaign back on track after a 1-0 victory over Ghana in Ndola.
South Africa failed to bounce back from last weekend’s dismal 1-1 home draw against Ethiopia after another 1-1 draw with Botswana.