The expected goals festival at Moi International Stadium Kasarani was never to be as a spirited Mauritius held Kenya to a barren draw in a 2018 Second leg first round of the World Qualifier but nevertheless Kenya sailed through 5-2 on aggregate courtesy of the win away last Port Louis last Wednesday.
With a 5-2 advantage prior to kick-off, Coach Bobby Williamson chose to gauge his new call up with Ulinzi’s Kevin Amwayi and Mathare United’s Eric Johannah earning a start.
Mauritius was the first to create a chance though a first minute corner that went wide. Micheal Olunga then wowed the crowd with a good move on the left flank but could not find the target.
A careless back pass from Mauritius was handled by keeper Jean Louis to earn Kenya an indirect free kick taken by Victor Wanyama but the shot hit the defense wall.
Past the quarter hour mark, Micheal Olunga weaved past his marker after a long ball set-up but his final left foot shot was too feeble to trouble Jean Louis at Mauritius goal.
In the 35th minute, Brian Mandela rattled the cross bar then Mauritius launched a quick counter but thankfully keeper Boniface Oluoch had positioned himself well to neutralize the threat.
Ayub Timbe had a good game with his runs on the flanks troubling the defense but lacking the final touch to finish.
The second half was another tale of missed opportunities as both Eric Johanna and Johanna Omollo came close to finding the elusive goal minutes after the breather.
Intensified attacks in the last quarter of the game by Stars only did well to psyche the crowd but keeper Jean Louis stood tall to deny Edwin Wafula, Ayub Timbe and even Johanna Omollo twice much to the dismay of the fans who expected goals to flow in with ease.
Top Fry’s John Ndirangu gave the Kenyan bench something to ponder about with his deft footwork that could have made a difference only if he had come on earlier.
Even after being bundled out, Mauritius coach Joe Tshupula was a relieved man after the final whistle.
Despite being held to that disappointing barren draw, Stars head coach Bobby Williamson has lauded his charges for qualifying for round two.
Williamson will now be aiming at getting the most out of Cape Verde—their opponent at the next hurdle in order to book a place in the group stages where proper campaign will shape out.
But as the recent National team call up for players plying their trade in the local league, fans have called for a paradigm shift towards incorporating the local based talents in national team’s duties occasioned by the AFCON 2017 home defeat to Zambia.
The availability of a set of them i.e. David Owino and Brian Mandela saw the team’s line up slightly changing with likes of David Ochieng, Harun Shakava, Musa Mohammed and Anthony Akumu dropping to the bench or not dropping out altogether.
In a possible pointer of an increasing pool of local and international talent to pick player for the national team from, defensive duo of Lawrence Olum and Abud Omar along with custodian Arnold Origi were notable absentees from the squad for the World Cup qualifier.
Commenting over choice of players to settle on, former Stars star Simon Mulama says it’s an aspect Stars can put to their advantage based on the flexibility that comes with it in re-adjusting when needed to the meet the tactical demands of each game.
Ethiopia and Tanzania national teams also joined Harambee Star among the East Africa teams to secure passage to the 2018 World Cup second rounds in the return leg matches.
Taifa Stars who lost away to Malawi courtesy of John Banda’s 43rd minutes booked their slot in the second rounds with a an aggregate 2-1 thanks to their first leg 2-0 win in Dar on Wednesday 7 October.
Ethiopia hammered Sao Tome and Principe 3-0 in Adiss Ababa to grind out a 3-1 aggregate win at home. Goals from Dawit Fekadu, Gatoch Panoom and Ramkel Lok were enough to lift the Waliah Ibex in overcoming a 1-0 first leg defeat and advancing in to the next phase.
Whereas Ethiopia books a meeting with Congo, Tanzania will have to contend with tricky match up against Algeria in the second round pairings set for November.