Harambee Stars fixtures: When will African World Cup qualifying resume?

The draw for the 2022 World Cup Africa qualifiers was conducted on January 21, 2020, at the Nile Ritz-Carlton in Cairo, Egypt.

The second round matches are earmarked to kick-off on October 13, 2020, after they were rescheduled from March 23, 2020, to pave way for 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) that was brought forward.

The Afcon tournament was originally scheduled to be played in June and July 2021, but Caf announced on January 15, 2020, that due to unfavourable climatic conditions during this period, the tournament would take place between January 9 and February 6, 2021.

The second round of the World Cup qualifiers saw the top 26 ranked Caf teams joined by the 14 winners from the first round. These teams were drawn into 10 groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches, with the winners of each group advancing to the third round.

However, with the coronavirus pandemic affecting several sporting activities across the world, Fifa, who was also forced to suspend some of their activities, is yet to release full fixtures for the competition.

But with most leagues across Europe planning to resume in June, could the qualifiers be played as planned from October?

• Which nations are pitted against Kenya?
• Could Fifa ban Kenya from the qualifiers?
• What sanctions could Kenya face?

Which teams are pitted against Kenya?

For the 13th consecutive time in their history, Kenya’s Harambee Stars will be seeking to qualify for the finals slated to be held in Qatar.

Goal Kenya.

Kenya under coach Francis Kimanzi, are pooled in Group E and will take on Mali, Uganda, and Rwanda in the second round of the qualifiers. Only the winner of the group will be guaranteed a place in the final phase of the qualifiers.

All the teams in Group E will be seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. Harambee Stars reached the second round of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualification where they were bundled out by Cape Verde on a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.

Michael Olunga scored Kenya’s only goal on November 13, 2015, at the Nyayo Stadium but Cape Verde would hit back to win 2-0 in Praia on November 17, 2015, and advance to the third and final round.

Kenya had started their first-round campaign beating Mauritius 5-2 on aggregate. Johanna Omollo scored a brace while Olunga, Ayub Timbe, and Harun Shakava scored once as Kenya beat Mauritius 5-2 on October 7 away before the two teams drew 0-0 at Kasarani.

Coach Kimanzi is confident Kenya can make it from the group and reach the third round.

His Ugandan counterpart, Johnny McKinstry also stated they are ready to face any team as they want to make sure they make it to the final to be staged in Qatar.

Last time out, Uganda finished 2nd in a group containing Egypt, Ghana, and Congo; including defeating group winners Egypt 1-0 in Kampala.

Could Fifa ban Kenya from the qualifiers?

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has stated the Harambee Stars will not be barred from participating in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

There have been questions over Kenya's chances of taking part in the qualifiers due to the case FKF is involved in with the former coach Adel Amrouche. Fifa is yet to give their judgment over the pending case which will determine Kenya's fate.

Goal earlier revealed the FKF and Amrouche are deep in a negotiation to settle the case and the talks enjoy the blessing of the world governing body.

In a Friday interview with NTV, Mwendwa hinted the talks will likely produce a positive outcome.

Ken Okaka (FKF).

“Some people have been waiting to see Kenya disqualified from the World Cup qualifiers. Let me tell you, Kenya will not be barred from participating in the qualifiers. I will not state how but let me assure you we will be in the 2022 Qatar qualifiers,” Mwendwa told NTV.

A month ago, FKF were handed a lifeline after Amrouche agreed to wait a little longer for the settlement of Sh109 million in debt. Initially, Fifa had extended the payment deadline to April 24 but now the case was resubmitted to its disciplinary committee for evaluation and final determination on May 18.

 Amrouche first won his case for wrongful dismissal before the Fifa Players Status Committee and later at the Court of Arbitration for Sport where he was awarded Sh109million.

What sanctions could Kenya face?

A possible disciplinary measure against the FKF is throwing Kenya out of the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers, in the same manner, Zimbabwe was ejected from the qualification process of the same competition in 2018.

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Fifa expelled Zimbabwe from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers for a similar offence in March 2015 after their FA failed to pay Brazilian coach Jose Claudinei Georgini ‘Valinhos’ his dues.

Apart from removing Kenya from World Cup qualifying rounds, Fifa could alternatively divert development funds meant for Kenya to settle Amrouche’s debt and also institute other disciplinary actions on the federation.