Harambee Stars go lock horn with Grenada today for di FIFA Series third-place playoff match. Di game go hold for Amahoro Stadium for Kigali, Rwanda, by 5pm Kenyan time. After dem lose to Estonia for penalty shootout for semi-final, di Kenyan team dey find redemption.
Coach Benni McCarthy talk say him dey happy with how di boys play against Estonia. “Losing on penalties no easy, but na part of football,” McCarthy yarn. Him add say dem don shift focus to di Grenada match, and dem wan finish di tournament with win.
Dis na first time Kenya and Grenada go meet for football field. Grenada wey dey rank 165 for FIFA rankings, 53 places below Kenya, go become di 75th different opponent wey Harambee Stars don face. Na small island nation with just 117,000 people, making am di smallest country Kenya don ever play against.
For di semi-final, Kenya and Estonia play 1-1 draw before Estonia win 5-4 for penalties. Ryan Ogam score di equalizer for Kenya after Tanel Tammik don put Estonia ahead. Job Ochieng’ and Lawrence Okoth miss chances wey fit win di match for Kenya.
Ochieng’ no go play today after hamstring injury. McCarthy confirm say di injury no serious, but di player don return to him club Real Sociedad for treatment. “I dey disappointed to lose am because him don be stand-out player for us,” McCarthy talk.
Di coach hint say him go make some changes to di team for Grenada match. “After our final training session, I go decide if we need make changes,” McCarthy explain. “Di idea na give opportunity to everyone get some minutes represent dia country.”
Two players wey make dia debut against Estonia – Frank Odhiambo from Gor Mahia and Zech Obiero from Tranmere Rovers – get praise from McCarthy. “Frank exceptional. Him no look like debutant. Him command well,” McCarthy yarn about Odhiambo.
Odhiambo wey follow McCarthy for press conference talk say Harambee Stars go show more “passion and unity” against Grenada. “We go work as unit give our best,” di defender promise. “We hope start on high note give Kenyans something to proud of.”
Former Kenya coach Zedekiah Otieno don defend McCarthy from criticism after di Estonia loss. Otieno talk say dis FIFA Series na like “pre-season” for McCarthy wey dey target 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. “As fans, you want watch game comment, but match get two things: match observation and game analysis,” Otieno explain.
Grenada come into dis match after heavy 4-0 loss to hosts Rwanda for semi-final. Di Caribbean team get mixed recent form with three wins and two losses from dia last five matches. Dem dey look generate attacking pressure score goals.
Di match no go broadcast on TV for USA, but fans fit watch am live via FIFA+ App. Kickoff times vary across di world: 10:00 AM ET for USA, 3:00 PM for Nigeria, 4:00 PM for South Africa, and 5:00 PM for Kenya.
Possible Kenya lineup include Bryne Odhiambo, Collins Sichenje, Alphonce Omija, Sylverter Owino, Daniel Sakari, Alpha Onyango, Manzur Okwaro, Timothy Ouma, Michael Olunga, William Wilson, and Ryan Ogam. Grenada likely lineup feature Chad Phillip, Aaron Pierre, Kayden Harrack, Kane Vincent-Young, Roman Charles-Cook, Shavon John-Brown, Myles Hippolyte, Parish Muirhead, Regan Charles-Cook, Darius Johnson, and Jermaine Francis.
McCarthy talk about di Estonia match say him dey disappointed with first half performance but happy with second half improvement. “I simply tell di lads: ‘We have to play with same desire wey I know we fit have,'” di coach recall. “We need be more patient with ball movement finding space.”
Di coach praise di team progress despite results no dey positive. “Football wey we want play dey evident to see, but e go help if results positive,” McCarthy yarn. “Without wins, e hard motivate players. But I see some positive progression for di team.”
Dis FIFA Series na collection of four-team invitational friendly tournaments wey FIFA organize. Di tournament dey hold biennially for March give national teams from different confederations more opportunities play against each other. Kenya dey use dis tournament build towards AFCON 2027 wey dem go co-host.
For di final tonight, Estonia go face hosts Rwanda from 10pm at Amahoro Stadium. Rwanda reach final after dem beat Grenada 4-0. Kenya match against Grenada go be di 750th international football match for Harambee Stars history.
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