KENYA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Harambee stars hope to bring down Nigeria Eagles in World Cup qualifier

Record ID: 236100

  • Title: KENYA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Harambee stars hope to bring down Nigeria Eagles in World Cup qualifier
  • Date: 5th June 2013
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (JUNE 4, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KENYA HARAMBEE STARS TEAM TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARAMBEE STARS COACH, ADEL AMROUCHE, SAYING: "My first problem is my team, when am okay Nigeria or Algeria I don't know what will come is no problem for me is my team, when my team is ready I don't scare anything, I say true when my is okay I don't scared." MORE OF HARAMBEE STARS TEAM TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOOTBALL KENYA FEDERATION OFFICIAL, HUSSEIN TERRY, SAYING: "They were 24 players and 10 officials of the Nigerian team which arrived and it took only 15 minutes to clear with the immigration, not like when we were in Nigeria we were in the airport for more than two and a half hours, and when they came out the bus was already there and we had already booked a hotel which they refused to go to and that hotel was inspected by the CAF (Confederation of African Football) officials so they took they went to another hotel." HARAMBEE STARS PLAYERS PRAYING VARIOUS OF NIGERIA NATIONAL TEAM PREPARING FOR TRAINING VARIOUS OF NIGERIA NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM COACH, STEPHEN KESHI, SAYING: "Yes but you know you have what four teams in this group? So the pressure should be spread around, it's everybody. Kenya have pressure they want to win, Malawi want to win, Namibia wants to win so it's all pressure around." MORE OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN GOALKEEPER, VINCENT ENYIAMA SAYING: "Yes the last match came and it's gone and this match it's just like another match we hope that God will help us win." GROUNDSMAN CUTTING GRASS AT THE STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAJQS767DAP84X01DG0DBOH8DV
  • Story Text: Kenya have an opportunity to revive their hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil as they prepare to play recent Africa Cup of Nations winners Nigeria on Wednesday (June 5).
    The African champions were shocked when Kenya took an early lead in the match played in Calabar, Nigeria early this year, however Nigeria scored in the last minute to salvage a 1-1 draw.
    Kenya`s coach Adel Amrouche says he is not scared of the three time African Champions and believes in his team.
    "My first problem is my team, when am okay Nigeria or Algeria I don't know what will come is no problem for me is my team, when my team is ready I don't scare anything, I say true when my is okay I don't scared," said Amrouche on Tuesday at the match venue in Nairobi.
    The Kenyan team had complained of ill treatment in Nigeria, citing flight delays, terrible training facilities and bad accommodation.
    Nigeria arrived in Kenya on Monday and went to a hotel they booked themselves, ignoring the one the Kenyans had arranged for them.
    Football Kenya Federation Official Hussein Terry explained that Kenya had made every effort to make the Nigerians journey pleasant.
    "They were 24 players and 10 officials of the Nigerian team which arrived and it took only 15 minutes to clear with the immigration, not like when we were in Nigeria we were in the airport for more than two and a half hours, and when they came out the bus was already there and we had already booked a hotel which they refused to go to and that hotel was inspected by the CAF (Confederation of African Football) officials so they took they went to another hotel," he said.
    Nigeria will be without Victor Moses, but have another Chelsea player, defensive midfielder John Obi Mikel, available.
    Despite being favourites to qualify for the finals coach Stephen Keshi insisted that his team were not under any extra pressure.
    "Yes but you know you have what four teams in this group? So the pressure should be spread around, it's everybody. Kenya have pressure they want to win, Malawi want to win, Namibia wants to win so it's all pressure around," he said.
    "The last match came and it's gone and this match it's just like another match we hope that God will help us win," added goalkeeper Vincent Enyiama.
    Kenya are currently last in Group F after only earning two points in their three games played and have to win to stand a realistic chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
    The Harambee Stars will be missing their captain Dennis Oliech, who is suspended, but will have Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama standing in as captain.
    Nigeria top Group F with five points, the same as second placed Malawi who have an inferior goal difference. Namibia are third with three points and Kenya are bottom with two.
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