Harambee Stars may be out of contention in qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon but it seems that they are in line to having very good preparations for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers to start in July 2021.
After seeing off South Sudan 1-0 in an international friendly on Saturday, Harambee Stars faced Serengeti Stars fresh from the 2020 Chan exploits in Cameroon with confidence and they started brightly, pinning their opponents into their own half.
Head coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee made ten changes to the squad that beat South Sudan with Kenneth Muguna skippering the side.
Harambee Stars got their goals through the FKF Premier league top scorer Eric Kapaito and Bandari’s Abdallah Hassan. Tanzania’s goal was scored by Ayub Rueben Lyanga of Azam FC.
Monday’s encounter is the first of the two friendlies the two sides will face off, the next scheduled for Thursday under the floodlights at Kasarani.
Stars were the better starters and Kapaito missed a glorious opportunity in the sixth minute of the game after failing to connect a perfect cross floated in by his Kariobangi Sharks teammate Daniel Sakari.
Sofapaka’s Lawrence Juma had another opportunity to put Kenya up in the 18th minute but he missed a sitter, hitting the upright from close range. The chance came via good work by Kapaito but Juma who had shown good strength to shield away Kelvin Yondani,hit the sidebar.
Kapaito would then head home the opener in the 20th minute of the game, beating veteran keeper Juma Kaseja at the near post to spark celebrations in the Stars bench.
Kenya’s dominance continued and four minutes later they were denied by the bar again, this time Wazito FC winger Kevin Kimani’s hitting the frame of goal with a well struck freekick from the edge of the box.
Tanzania got their goal when Lyanga followed up his earlier effort heading home past James Saruni to half the deficit. His earlier effort also from a header had beaten the experienced Ulinzi keeper but Lyanga was quick to react, heading home past a hapless Saruni.
In the second half, Stars started by making changes, Abdallah coming in for James Mazembe who had struggled to make an impact throughout the match.
Tanzania’s Feisal Salum Abubakar's effort from a freekick was saved by Saruni with Lyanga placing the rebound wide.
Stars made more changes, Erick Rupia and Henry Meja coming on for Kimani and Juma respectively as coach Mulee went for an all out attack but the scoreline would remain the same.