Harambee Stars coach name potential opponents for build-up matches

Harambee Stars may play upto three friendly matches as part of their preps for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.

Kenya will be seeking to bounce back from a poor start when they host highly ranked Ghana on March 23 in the qualifiers. Stars, then under Stanley Okumbi, went down 2-1 to Sierra Leone in the opening rounds of qualifiers last June.

Coach Paul Put, who took over last November, says that Football Kenya Federation has already ‘confirmed’ two friendly matches during the Fifa international week between March 19 and 27.

However, the Belgian is still salivating for one more match to test the fitness level of his squad and get to know his players ahead of crunch tie with Ghana.

Put, who signed a two-year contract, is yet to officially meet a majority of Kenyan players, who play in Europe, including captain Victor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspur.

“FKF has so far confirmed two friendlies but we are still looking at playing Mali, Burkina Faso or even Nigeria, outside the Fifa calendar," Put said.

“Football is all about details and we need to prepare well if we are to qualify for Afcon,” added the Belgian.

The qualifiers will be the second competitive match for Put having guided the country to Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup title last December.