Stars begin preps for Ghana tie as 21 report to camp

Harambee Stars began their preparations for the forthcoming crunch African Cup of Nations qualifier with Ghana on Monday with 21 players reporting to camp.

Some 15 local based and five foreign based players were among the early arrivals , with the rest of the provisional squad, mainly foreign legion, expected by Tuesday.

Among the early birds at camp were Zambian based shot-stopper Ian Otieno who turns out for Red Arrows and his Tusker counterpart Patrick Matasi.

Others are Brian Bwire of Kariobangi Sharks and Bandari’s goalie Farouk Shikalo,Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia), Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United), amongst others.

The Stars under coach Sebastian Migne will be sharpening their skills at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies grounds as they race to put everything in shape ahead of the crunch show with the Black Stars in Nairobi this Saturday.

Kenya is third in Group F, three points behind Ghana and second placed Sierra Leone, who both won their opening matches.

Stars will thus look to give a good account of themselves against the West-African nation in their quest for a place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations set to be held in June 2019 in Cameroon.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers

Ian Otieno (Red Arrows, Zambia), Patrick Matasi (Tusker), Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks), Farouk Shikalo (Bandari)

Defenders

Brian Mandela (Maritzburg, South Africa), David Owino (Zesco, Zambia), Joseph Okumu (AFC Ann Arbor, USA), Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), Erick Ouma (Vasalund, Sweden), David Ochieng (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Abud Omar (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia) Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United)

Midfielders

Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Mc Donald Mariga (Real Oviedo, Spain), Clifton Miheso (Buildcon FC, Zambia), Paul Were (FC Kaisar, Kazakhstan), Ismael Gonzales (CF Fuenlabrada, Spain), Eric Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia), Whyvonne Isuza (AFC Leopards), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia), George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Samuel Onyango (Gor Mahia)

Forwards

Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Ovella Ochieng (Vasalund, Sweden), Jesse Were (Zesco, Zambia), Masud Juma (Un-attached), Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Piston Mutamba (Sofapaka), Allan Wanga (Kakamega Homeboyz)