Kenya panic over Eagles
MAY 4, 2013
Kenya’s David Wainaiwa (centre) competing with Nigeria’s Brown Ideye (left) and Elderson Echiejile during their World Cup qualifying match in Calabar…on Saturday. The match ended 1-1.
Kenya coach Adel Amrouche has begun search for a capable replacement for talismanic Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech ahead of their June 5 second leg Group F Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Nairobi.
The Super Eagles are tied on five points with Malawi, followed by Namibia in the third place with three points. And Kenya, who lie at the bottom of the group with two points, need to beat Nigeria to reignite any hopes of bagging the single ticket to the last round of the World Cup qualifiers.
Belgian-born Amrouche, who led the Kenyans to a 1-1 draw with the Eagles in their first leg meeting in Calabar on March 23, will miss the services of Oliech and first-choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi in Nairobi, after they accumulated two yellow cards each in the qualifiers.
Reports during the week said the highly worried Harambee Stars boss has been racking his brain for a striker to give the team three points against Nigeria. He is said to be disturbed by the quality of strikers available, fearing they may not be able to step up to the challenge.
Kenya are scheduled to face Ghana in a friendly affair in Nairobi on June 1 and Harambee Stars assistant coach James Nandwa believes the encounter will present the coaching crew an opportunity to test the strikers they are banking on.
He confirmed that the team face striking crisis without Oliech.
“We are looking at Kepha Aswani and George Odhiambo because they are currently enjoying top form,” theStandard Digital quoted Nandwa as saying.
Nandwa also revealed that they are pursuing Lille striker Dujovic Origi. “He has just turned 18 and this is the right time for him to make a decision regarding his future. We are hoping he can play for Kenya instead of Belgium,” he added.
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