Migne faces new test as Kenya take on Tanzania

Kenya football team head coach Sebastien Migne will be facing a test of talent diversity when he leads his charges on Sunday against Tanzania, in a CHAN qualifier in Dar es Salaam.

Migne has been consistent with his lean team since the qualifiers of the last African Cup of Nations (AFCON), but is now operating with almost completely new set up for the CHAN assignment.

This, is a sharp contrast in Tanzania’s squad, whose backbone for AFCON was local based players, with 10 players who were in the Egypt party included in the initial provisional squad.

While Harambee Stars has no single player in the squad that started against Tanzania`s Taifa Stars in their second Group C African Cup of Nations (AFCON) match for the forthcoming CHAN qualifier, Tanzania has six.

Simba SC trio Aishi Manula, Gadiel Michael, Erasto Nyoni; David Mwantika and Mudathir Yahya (Azam FC), Kelvin Yondani (Young Africans) started against Kenya in Egypt.

John Bocco, Metacha Mnata, Feisal Salum and Frank Domayo were also in Cairo during the duel that Kenya won 3-2, with all goals coming from foreign based players.

Only Francis Kahata was locally based in Migne’s squad then, but has since moved to Tanzania giants hence ineligible for the CHAN assignment.

“New young players have a chance to give me the answer if they can compete at top level. The national team is always open to performing players and it’s good for them, and for Kenya,” said Migne.

Confederation of African football came up with CHAN as a way of giving chance to local based players in respective African countries in the continental level, as competition from foreign based ones has been on the surge.

Building on the team fired coach Emmanuel Amuneke left after the a sorry AFCON outing, newly appointed Tanzania interim tactician Ettiene Ndayiragije says his team is ready to revenge against the much changed Kenyan side.

“We have started our preparations well and the players have shown quality and character. I am optimistic that every player will be ready to play,” the Burundian trainer told CafOnline.com in Dar es Salaam.

He continued: “Every game is tough. This is the game we need to win, it’s a knockout, if you lose you are out, we cannot afford to lose. We know Kenya is a good team but we will play well to win and ease the pressure for the return leg.”

The return match will be a week later in Nairobi, at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.