Omollo screamer lights up Kasarani as Harambee Stars draw with Togo

Omollo screamer lights up Kasarani as Harambee Stars draw with Togo

Hakimu Oura-sama’s goal in the 64th minute denied Harambee Stars what would have been a pivotal home win in their quest of earning a ticket to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals set for Cameroon as Togo and Kenya battled to a 1-1 draw at Kasarani Monday night.

Belgium based midfielder Johanna ‘Tosh’ Omollo who plies his trade with Cercle Brugge put the Stars ahead midway through the first half with a beauty of goal but Francis Kimanzi’s boys failed to hold onto the lead that would have taken them top of Group G.

The 30-year-old deadlocked Omollo picked a pass just inches into the enemy’s half and dribbled forward with a jinking run before unleashing a well-time bomb; thunderous in nature, and screaming in momentum, some some 25 yards out that hit the inside of the cross bar for an opener.

So beautiful, so majestic, so tantalizing was the strike that it gave the Togolese goalie no chance. Kenya 1-0 Togo, so read the scoreboard  at half-time but after the interval the visitors fought hard to level.

With Comoros and Egypt having drawn 0-0 in another Group G encounter, Kenya, under  the tutelage of home grown coach Francis Kimanzi could have gone top of the table on 4 points but will now contend with 2 points same as Egypt who battled Comoros to a barren draw.

Comoros, by virtue of beating Togo in their opening match top the standings on 4 points as Togo trail with a point in a group that is shaping out to be so tight.

The Stars began strongly with a pivotal point away in Alexandria, Egypt last Thursday but could not build on that impressive result before a sparse home crowd.

Omollo tussles for the ball against his Togolese marker.PHOTO/Stafford Ondego./Sportpicha/Citizen Digital

The Stars will need to make their home ground a fortress and pick all the maximum points and hope to force one draw on the road to be assured of a ticket to Cameroon in 2021 where they finals will be staged.

Kimanzi retained Ian Otieno in goal after first choice goalie Patrick Matasi picked an injury in the match against Egypt while lanky Michael Olunga led the line.

The Stars began the match lively in a largely open game with each side going for an early goal but the early attempts either missed the target or failed to trouble either of the two goalies. Jesse Were also came close with a rasping shot late in the second half but it went wide.

Tags:

Harambee Stars Kasarani Togo AFCON 2021 qualifier Claude Le Roy Francis Kiamnzi Johanna 'Tosh' Omollo

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