Harambee stars players during their AFCN match against Guinea Bissau after crowd trouble at Nyayo Stadium on March 27, 2016. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Kenya are in the ‘Group of Death’ for next month’s (December 3-17) Council of East and Central Africa (Cecafa) Senior Challenge Cup to be held in Kakamega and Kisumu counties.

The tournament returns to Kenya for the first time since 2013 when the national football team, Harambee Stars, beat Sudan 2-0 to lift their last regional title.

In the draw conducted yesterday at Football Kenya Federation’s headquarters at Kasarani, Harambee Stars have been drawn in Group A together with former champions the Amavubi of Rwanda and Taifa Stars of Tanzania.

Stanley Okumbi’s men, who are yet to assemble, will also face Zanzibar and guest team Libya in the preliminary round matches of the tournament that will be broadcast live on Tanzanian-based pay television Azam.

When contacted to comment on the draws, calls to Okumbi’s phone went unanswered even after promising this reporter to get back to him before 5pm yesterday.

“Wait I analyse the group first, I will get back to you at 5pm,” said Okumbi, but would not pick calls thereafter. 

Defending champions Uganda Cranes headlines a relatively easy Group B alongside Ethiopia, Burundi, South Sudan and invited team Zimbabwe.

The organisers have suffered a major blow following Sudan’s last minute withdrawal due to some unavoidable circumstances, thus joining the duo of Eritrea and Djibouti on the withdrawal list.

Unlike the previous editions, there will be no quarterfinals this year. The top two teams in each group of the two-week tournament will directly qualify for the semifinals to be played on December 14th and 15th respectively.

Both Uganda and Rwanda are expected to field strong squads as they prepare for the 2018 Chan tournament in Morocco. Foreign-based players who are on-break are also allowed to feature.

Tanzania will face off with Libya in the opening match of the tournament on December 3 in Kisumu before paving way for the 4pm encounter between hosts Harambee Stars and Rwanda at the same venue.

Day two will see Uganda Cranes, who beat Amavubi 1-0 to win a record 14th title in Addis Ababa in 2015, clash with the Warriors of Zimbabwe in a Group B fixture at Bukhungu Stadium. The match will be preceded by an early kick off match between Burundi and Ethiopia.

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