Kenya/Egypt: Kenya, Egypt Clash in Alexandria

Harambee Stars face Egypt in a 2021 Afcon qualifier at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria Thursday evening from 7pm.

The team finalised its training Wednesday evening with a full house, save for striker John Avire.

The forward has been at the centre of a transfer tussle between Sofapaka and Egyptian side Tanta SC with the latter refusing to release him to the national team as they did not receive an official request letter from Football Kenya Federation (FKF), who in turn argue that they could not ask for the same from Tanta as he (Avire) is technically still a Sofapaka player.

However, former Tusker striker Boniface Muchiri, now based in the USA, was the latest foreign-based player to join Stars camp in Egypt on Wednesday.

Johanna Omolo (Belgium), Victor Wanyama (England), Michael Olunga (Japan), Eric Johanna, Eric Ouma, Joseph Okumu (Sweden), Harun Shakava (Zambia), Patrick Matasi (Ethiopia) and Cliff Nyakeya (Egypt) are all in Harambee Stars squad that is eager to register a positive result Thursday evening.

Kenya is yet to register a win after the 2019 Afcon having played to a 1-1 draw with Uganda Cranes in August and lost to Mozambique by a solitary goal in September, both friendly matches played in Nairobi under coach Francis Kimanzi, who replaced Frenchman Sebastien Migne.

Egypt, meanwhile will be without arguably their biggest star Mohamed Salah, who is nursing a minor ankle injury and experienced playmaker Abdullah El Said, the latter a victim of a war of words between Pharaohs coach Hossam El Badry and Pyramids FC, who refused to release players to the national team.