World Cup: Kenya Coach Admits Eagles’ Superiority

Kenya coach Adel Amrouche has admitted he only boasts of two stars against Nigeria’s array of big names for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier in Calabar, Cross River State.

Amrouche said he is therefore not building the Harambee Stars for the Nigeria game but the future.

“We are not here to shock Nigeria, but to play football. Nigeria have big names while my team have just two playing in top teams, Victor Wanyama (Celtic) and Dennis Oliech (Ajaccio), the rest play in second division clubs,” said the Algerian handler.

“I have not spent much time with the team. We will play football and see what happens. Nigeria are a big team, champions, it’s not every time we play champions.”

The Algerian-Belgian, who was until recently coach of Burundi, has followed Nigerian football particularly the Golden Generation of 1994 led by the likes of Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha.

“I know about Okocha, he is from a different world. The 1994 squad under Clemens Westerhof were good. I know Tijani Babangida, Daniel Amokachi, Rashidi Yekini. I know Kanu,” he said.

“Mikel and Victor Moses are good players in the present team.”

He said he would rather hold back his verdict on the quality of players from the Nigeria league until they have fully established themselves on the international scene.

“I cannot assess them now because they just played three games, may be when they play like 15 games, I can talk on their qualities,” he remarked.

Kenya are rooted to the bottom of Group F with a point with Nigeria top of the standings on four points. Namibia have recorded three points and Malawi are on two points.

Meanwhile, the list of Harambee stars to take on Nigeria in a third round 2014 World Cup qualifier is out.

Futaa.com reports that the first eleven sees the return of Johanna Omolo and Jamal Mohammed to start against the Eagles.
David Gateri, who got his second cap in a friendly in early February against Libya in Tunisia makes the squad, for his third cap, and will start off on the right wing.

On the opposite end will be former youth player Francis Kahata. David Cheche Ochieng and Brian Niang Mandela take up the central defence role with David Owino on the left and Ulinzi’s Mulinge Munandi on the right.

Johanna Omolo, Victor Wanyama and skipper Dennis Oliech complete Adel Amrouche’s first ever lineup for the Harambee Stars.