Harambee Stars plot Nigeria’s downfall
APRIL 27, 2013
Oliech
Kenya coach Adel Amrouche is planning to spring another surprise by fielding a largely home-based team against Nigeria in their second leg Group F World Cup qualifier in Nairobi on June.
Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi’s last-gasp effort stopped the Harambee Stars from pulling one of the greatest shocks in the game as the Super Eagles rescued a point in their a 1-1 draw with Kenya in their first leg meeting in Calabar on March 23.
Amrouche’s tactics in the game ensured that the Eagles were denied clear-cut chances in front of goal.
Nigeria will need all of the cutting edge they can muster in their quest to win the encounter and brighten their chances of picking up the single ticket in the group to the last stage of the World Cup qualifiers ahead of Malawi, who tied on five points with them.
Amrouche, who named 14 domestic league players in his 25-man squad ahead of the game on Tuesday, will be denied the services of captain Dennis Oliech and goalkeeper Arnold Origi in the clash.
Both first-team players will miss the crucial match after accumulating two yellow cards each in the qualifiers.
The Belgian coach is banking on KCB’s Benedict Owuor, Thika United’s attacking duo of David Kingatua and Kennedy Otieno, Mathare United’s David Mwaura, Sony Sugar’s Ben Barasa, Daniel Mutai of Chemelil Sugar and Tusker’s Ismael Dunga for victory over the Eagles
The former Burundi manager said recently he was out for a win in the game to reignite the Harambee Stars’ hopes of progressing to the final round of the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Amrouche has persuaded the Kenyan Football Federation to engage the services of a physiologist for the team.
He believes his players did not display enough self-confidence during their first leg fixture with the Eagles in Calabar last month despite snatching a point in the encounter.
Amrouche told Nairobi-based Daily Nation that the psychologist would work on the player at least a month before hosting the African champions.
“Some of our preparations will target the minds of the players because we need to trust in ourselves. I can look for someone to assign that part,” Amrouche said.
“I am not thinking about the Super Eagles. We only talk about ourselves and how we can improve. I want to build a team of able players into a family, thereafter we will work towards achieving our goals.”
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