Musa Otieno lauds Harambee Stars friendly against higher ranked Iran

Former Kenya national team captain Musa 'otero' Otieno believes Harambee Stars has quality in the team and is optimistic that the team will defy the low expectations against Iran.

The Harambee Stars will flex muscles with Team Melli in an international friendly to be held on March 28 away in Tehran as they return to the international stage after being banned by the world football governing body, Fifa, in February of last year.

And with little over eight days left until the high-profile friendly, the former Harambee Stars defender Musa says the match is a confidence booster.

“To compete at the highest level, it is important to face high ranked opponents. This friendly against Iran presents us with a chance and I am confident that the team is capable of rising to the challenge.

The foreign-based players included in the squad are a plus for us,” he said.

Harambee Stars are currently in a residential camp to prepare for the clash against Iran that will be the third meeting between the two nations.

The first meeting was a friendly match in April 1977 when Kenya went down 3-1. The second match was in 2009 in Tehran, where Harambee Stars lost narrowly to the host with a 1-0 defeat.

Before the match against Harambee Stars, Iran will play against 2018 World Cup hosts, Russia, on March 23 at the Azadi Stadium in their capital Tehran.

Kenya is ranked 101, while Iran is ranked 24 in the latest FIFA rankings, released last December.