Photo Credit - Football Kenya Federation.
Kenyan custodian Ian Otieno has predicted a very tactical game when the national team Harambee Stars takes on Gabon in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
Harambee Stars will be seeking revenge having lost the first round meeting against the Panthers 2-1 away at Stade de Franceville. Gabon arrived safely in Kenya on Friday night and trained at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday ahead of the fixture.
While Gabon won their matchday five fixture 3-0 against Seychelles at Stade de Franceville, Kenya had to come back twice to draw 3-3 against the Scorpions of Gambia at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Ivory Coast.
“We have had good preparations, everyone is ready to go and I think the fact that we are playing at home it give us an oomph going into the game, so I think everyone is ready to represent and get the result we need,” Otieno, who saved a penalty against Gambia, told Pan-Africa Football.
On making a return to play their home matches on home soil after close to two years, Otieno, who features for Richards Bay in South Africa’s Betway Premiership, said: “We are equally happy to be back home, because we’ve been playing away from home, yeah, we look forward to the support from the fans, to the support of the home crowd, and tomorrow just like any other day, we are going to give it our best.
“I think it is going to be a good tactical game, yes they (Gabon) have got good players in their team, and we’ve equally good players in our team, so I think it is going to be a very interesting game and a very tactical game.”
On his part, midfielder William Wilson, who scored Kenya’s leveller against Gambia with the last kick of the game, said: “It was a dream come true to be fair, to score my first goal for Kenya, my family at home was very happy, even my family here was very happy. It was a great achievement and great memory for me to take back to Australia.
“I talked to the coach and he put a lot of good ideas on my head and I thought it was the perfect game to make my debut, I’ve always been in touch with this place, I love this country, my father is here, family is here, uncle’s is here, so I have always had a connection, so I knew this was going to be a great team, and I love to be a part of it.”
Harambee Stars are currently sitting fourth in Group F with six points from five matches while Gabon are second on 12, one less than leaders Ivory Coast, who have garnered 13.
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