This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
Kenya's forward Michael Olunga has been in sublime form, scoring nine league goals in eight matches in Japan's top-flight league, making him the top scorer in the competition.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has backed Olunga to fire Harambee Stars to the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, citing his impressive form.
On June 27, 2019, Olunga scored his first goal against Tanzania in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations match in Cairo, as seen in this AFP PHOTO.
Formerly at Girona in Spain's top flight, Olunga was humble in his post-match comments, playing down the possibility of winning the golden boot, while attributing his rich vein of form to his teammates.
“I scored the winning goal but it was teamwork and especially we have to give credit to our defence, they were really solid at the back, they absorbed pressure from the first minute. Now we have won four matches in a row and confidence in the team is high,” Olunga said.
As the qualification matches for the 2022 Fifa World Cup were rescheduled due to the coronavirus, Kenya has been pooled in Group E alongside neighbours Uganda, Rwanda, and Mali.
Kenya is yet to qualify to compete at the World Cup, but Mwendwa remains optimistic about Olunga's chances, tweeting, “(May) the gods of goals stay with you Michael (Olunga). Qatar is a possibility.”
