The twenty-four-man Harambee Stars squad departed Kenya last night for Guinea, where they will face the hosts in their second Group 'D' match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The match is scheduled to take place on Thursday at the 25,000-capacity Stade 28 Septembre in Conakry, starting at 4 pm local time.
Football Kenya Federation Head of Projects and National Teams Athanus Obango confirmed that the squad flew to Addis Ababa before connecting to Conakry on an eight-hour flight. Upon arrival, the team will engage in light training and get a feel of the Stade 28 Septembre the following day. Obango expressed confidence in the team's preparation, stating that all logistics have been confirmed and the players are set to perform well in the match.
The Harambee Stars squad had a challenging first match against Eritrea, managing to secure a 1-1 draw at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday. Coach Benni McCarthy had cited inadequate training due to a go-slow by his players as a reason for their lackluster performance. The team has since resumed training, with McCarthy facing a tougher opponent in Guinea, ranked 81st globally, in their upcoming match.
Guinea's team includes several skilled players, such as forward Seydouba Cisse, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Kholood, and Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, who is expected to lead their attack. Other notable players include Aguibou Camara, Aliou Baldé, Mohamed Bangoura, Ousmane Camara, Abdoul Traoré, Yadaly Diaby, and Lamine Diaby-Fadiga, all of whom play their club football outside Guinea.
Notably, Guinea's coach Paulo Duarte has left out several experienced players who have featured for the team in previous continental competitions, including Naby Keïta, Mohamed Mady Camara, and Cheick Oumar Condé. Despite this, Guinea has a rich history in the Africa Cup of Nations, having appeared at 14 finals and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2023 edition.
The match against Guinea will be Kenya's second Group 'D' match, and the team will look to improve on their performance against Eritrea. Kenya currently lies 107th in Fifa rankings, while Guinea is ranked 81st globally. The two teams have met eight times in Fifa World Cup qualifiers, with each side winning at home whenever they score.
The historical encounters between Kenya and Guinea have been closely contested, with Kenya winning 2-0 in 1993 and 2-1 in 2004 and 2008, while Guinea won 4-0 in 1992 and 3-1 in 1996. The upcoming match will be a crucial test for Harambee Stars as they seek to secure a win and advance in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Key points
- Harambee Stars face a tougher opponent in Guinea, ranked 81st globally, after securing a 1-1 draw against Eritrea in their first match.
- The match against Guinea will be played at the 25,000-capacity Stade 28 Septembre in Conakry on Thursday at 4 pm local time.
- Coach Paulo Duarte has left out several experienced players from Guinea's squad, including Naby Keïta and Mohamed Mady Camara.
