This archive report was first published on 18 November 2019.
Published on November 18, 2019, Harambee Stars will face Togo's Sparrow Hawks in the second Group G match of the 2021 Africa Nations Cup Qualifiers at Kasarani Stadium.
Kenya's Harambee Stars will be aiming to move closer to 2021 AFCON finals qualification in Cameroon with a win over Togo. A win tonight will put Kenya in pole position to make a return to continental showpiece ahead of next year's two-legged tie against Comoros before entertaining Egypt in Nairobi.
It will also be a moment for Francis Kimanzi and his charges to avenge their 2012 continental qualifiers defeat (1-0) to the Sparrow Hawks in Lome that eventually locked them out of the 2013 Afcon finals held in South Africa.
Francis Kimanzi, the Harambee Stars coach, has been fined US$ 10,000 (Sh850, 000) and banned for four matches by the Confederation of African Football (Caf), for allegedly assaulting a match official during a game against Togo in 2012.
Despite the challenges, Kimanzi remains optimistic about the team's chances, saying, 'I prefer staying positive because the players are so positive and are more motivated to play on Monday. That is important for us and I don’t think all the other arrangements that might have gone wrong will play any part on Monday.'
On the other hand, Togo coach Claude Le Roy is braced for a difficult match, singling out Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder Victor Wanyama, Kashiwa Reysol talisman Michael Olunga, and China-based Ayub Timbe as Kenya's main threats tonight.
