‘We Are Just as Good’ - Harambee Stars Coach Fires Warning to Senegal

While Harambee Stars are seen as underdogs in their match against Senegal, assistant coach Anthony 'Modo' Kimani feels his team cannot be underestimated.

Kenya face the Teranga Lions in a friendly match on Tuesday evening in Turkey and with the West Africans ranked second in Africa and 18th in the world, Benni McCarthy’s men have their work cut out.

The Senegalese have a star-studded team that includes players who ply their trade in some of the top leagues in the world such as Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy, Ilman Ndiaye, Idrisa Gueye, Pape Sarr among others while head coach Benni McCarthy selected a relatively young and inexperienced Kenyan squad for this month’s friendly games.

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However, that does not faze Kimani who feels games like these are what brings out the best from the players.

“Every player believes they are the best and for you to get at that point, you have to play against the best and the players are very fortunate to play against one of the best teams in Africa,” said Kimani.

“There is going to be a lot of learning for the technical bench and the players but they are well motivated. They are looking forward to that task and I think they are up to task.”

Kimani is counting on his team’s preparations, saying their training has covered key areas that they needed to address and is confident that they can pull off a shock result against the 2021 African champions.

“We have prepared really well for Senegal, they are a good team and we are just as good but yes, they might have won the AFCON and have a few players that play in the big leagues but the boys we have in camp right now are waiting for their big break,” he added.

“That is an opportunity to show the rest of the world what they are made of and probably get better opportunities out there for themselves.”

Kenya and Senegal last faced off at the group stages of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, when Harambee Stars lost 3-0, which was the fifth meeting between the two teams with the East Africans losing four and one ending in a stalemate.