Everton to face Kariobangi Sharks in Kenya on July 7

Everton will be in Kenya on July 7th to play Kariobangi Sharks [Courtesy]

Sports betting franchise SportPesa, official kit sponsors for English football club Everton FC have announced the Toffees will visit Kenya to defend their SportPesa Cup title against Kariobangi Sharks on July 7^th.

As confirmed by GameYetu on SportPesa’s social media handles and the official Everton website, Marco Silva’s side will face the Kenyan outfit at the Kasarani Stadium in their first 2019 pre-season friendly.

???? Breaking News: EPL club @Everton to visit East Africa for the 2nd time to defend their title
?The challenger: @k_sharksfc
???????? Bragging rights: #SportPesaCup 2019 Champions
???? Date: 7th July, 2019
???? Venue: Kasarani Stadium, Kenya

Don't miss history in the making! #MakeItCount pic.twitter.com/OO0omTucVo

— SportPesa (@SportPesa) May 2, 2019

“Everton Football Club will travel to Nairobi, Kenya to take on Kariobangi Sharks FC in the first 2019 pre-season friendly announced by the Club. The game will take place on Sunday 7 July (kick-off TBC) at the Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi. The game against the Kariobangi Sharks FC marks Everton’s second visit to East Africa,” read part of a statement on Everton’s website.

Kariobangi Sharks earned rights to face Everton following their 1-0 win over Bandari FC in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in January.

This will be Everton’s second visit to East Africa – the first one being a historic 2-1 humbling of perennial Kenyan champions Gor Mahia at the National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam in July 2017. 

???????? | We're heading back to East Africa! @SportPesa @SportPesa_UK

2017: Tanzania ?
2019: Kenya ???? — Everton (@Everton) May 2, 2019

In November 2018, Gor Mahia made the trip to England, UK to play the Toffees, making history as the first ever East-African club to face a top-flight English side in England.

"Kariobangi Sharks FC is a team that has defied many odds to first make it to Kenya's top league, the SportPesa Premier League, earning their stripes by winning the Shield Cup in Kenya, and to our delight, the SportPesa Cup tournament in Tanzania which was held in January. These boys have all it takes to host Everton for this historic match. It will be a record making match as well as a much-needed catalyst to boost careers in local football as well as sports development in the country,” said SportPesa CEO Ronaldo Karauri.