NAIROBI, Kenya, May 14 – The interwebs were red hot on Tuesday afternoon after Harambee Stars head coach Sebastien Migne named his provisional team for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Kenyan football fans expressing their anger at certain choices the Frenchman made.

Biggest on the list of complains was the omission of Zesco United forward Jesse Were as well as defender David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng from the list. The two had also not been named in the squad that played Ghana in the last qualifier.

And, while naming his squad, the tactician was quizzed on why he once again overlooked the two, especially Jesse Were and said his decision was purely based on what he thought best for the team.

“It’s a choice and it’s always difficult. I need to try to harmonize not the best 23 players in my list but the best group,”

“For Jesse in 26 call ups he has never scored one goal for the national team. I know he is the best striker in Zambia but we also have the best striker in Kenya in the list. Today he is not in my list but tomorrow he is there. Always the player has the answer; maybe it’s a good message for him,” the tactician stated.

On Ochieng, the tactician said he personally called the defender who has since been deployed in defensive midfield role for AFC and personally relayed the message he will not be included in the team.

“With Cheche what I saw during the last game with Leopards was not enough for him. For me he was not ready to play in the high level. Were (Paul) showed me that he wants to participate. Also Piston gave me a lot last year and in India when nobody was there but for me he didn’t play enough, he didn’t perform enough with his club,” Migne further stated.

It is Jesse’s absence from the team that has sparked outrage from football fans especially his stats in the Zambian Premier League with Zesco making up a case for him.

The forward has hit double digit goals in all the seasons he has been in Zambia. In 2017, he scored 18 goals in the league, three in the CAF Champions League and two in the Barclays Cup to bring his season tally to 23.

Last year, the striker scored 18 league goals while this year, he has hit the back of the net nine times in the league and six in the Champions league to bring his tally to 15 with the season not yet over.

However, Migne who has called up Were in his previous training camps but has not played much is swayed to make his decision based on his record in the national team.

In his place, the tactician has preferred to call up Masud Juma who moved to Libya to join Al Nasr Benghazi after leaving his stint in the United Arab Emirates. However, not much stats are available on the former Kariobangi Sharks forward’s portfolio up north.

Cheche moved back to the KPL on short term basis to improve his form and put up a case to be included in the AFCON team after leaving Swedish club IF Bromma and has been playing consistently for AFC Leopards in midfield.

Meanwhile, the tactician has defended his selection especially for the young players saying he has brought them on board to learn from the seniors.

“If you have 34 players with some experience and they are not happy to be on the bench you create trouble for nothing. But if you have someone ready to learn and happy to be there, it’s good. I want positive attitude in my camp,” stated Migne.

Meanwhile, the tactician has affirmed the team’s target in Cairo will be to get in the knock out phase at least. Kenya is in Pool C with Algeria, Senegal and neighbors Tanzania. Top two teams across the six groups make it to the round of 16 and will be joined by the best four third placed ranked teams.

“Obviously we will not travel to Egypt like tourists. When you play a competition it’s to try to achieve your best and it will be the first target for players will be to get to round of 16. Everything is possible but we will take match after match then we will see. We will try write a good story for Kenyan football,” stated Migne.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Why I left Jesse Were, Cheche out u2013 Migne

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Serena withdraws from Italian Open with knee problemrn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Solskjaer retains coaching staff despite Man Utd slumprn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn City “extremely concerned” by Champions League ban storyrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Neuer in race to be fit for Bundesliga title deciderrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Betway rewards fan with AFCON fully paid triprn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 12 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Curry brother rivalry adds spice to NBA W. Conference finalsrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Isuza in as Migne names AFCON squadrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Discarded Origi is now a symbol of Liverpool's penchant for the improbablern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Origi the hero as Liverpool dump Messiu2019s Barcelona out of Champions Leaguern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenyans On Twitter brag of Wanyama, u2018Origiu2019 ahead of UCL finalrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Three things we learned from Liverpool v Barcelonarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Origi now a darling to Liverpool fans on Twitterrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Pochettino says 'stupid' to stay at Spurs with no planrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Lucas Moura, from PSG cast-off to Tottenham idolrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Kenya drops two sprinters over testosteronern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Serena withdraws from Italian Open with knee problem

rn rn rn Gamern rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Solskjaer retains coaching staff despite Man Utd slump

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

City “extremely concerned” by Champions League ban story

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Neuer in race to be fit for Bundesliga title decider

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Betway rewards fan with AFCON fully paid trip

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

Will Barcelona win the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Curry brother rivalry adds spice to NBA W. Conference finals

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Man Utd face daunting task to recover former glories

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 13th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Family affair as Serena, Venus set up Rome rematch

rn rn rn Gamern rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Liverpool seek ‘perfection’ in bid to dethrone Pep’s City

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 13th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Will AFC give Gor guard of honor at Kasarani?

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 13th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Serena withdraws from Italian Open with knee problemrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Why I left Jesse Were, Cheche out u2013 Mignern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Solskjaer retains coaching staff despite Man Utd slumprn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn City “extremely concerned” by Champions League ban storyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Neuer in race to be fit for Bundesliga title deciderrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tIsuza in as Migne names AFCON squadrn

rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tDiscarded Origi is now a symbol of Liverpool's penchant for the improbablern

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 8th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tOrigi the hero as Liverpool dump Messiu2019s Barcelona out of Champions Leaguern

rn rn rn Wednesday, 8th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenyans On Twitter brag of Wanyama, u2018Origiu2019 ahead of UCL finalrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 9th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tThree things we learned from Liverpool v Barcelonarn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 8th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tOrigi now a darling to Liverpool fans on Twitterrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 8th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tPochettino says 'stupid' to stay at Spurs with no planrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 11th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tLucas Moura, from PSG cast-off to Tottenham idolrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 9th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenya drops two sprinters over testosteronern

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 11th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Serena withdraws from Italian Open with knee problemrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Why I left Jesse Were, Cheche out u2013 Mignern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Solskjaer retains coaching staff despite Man Utd slumprn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn City “extremely concerned” by Champions League ban storyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Neuer in race to be fit for Bundesliga title deciderrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */