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Cameroon
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Kenya will play a high profile international friendly match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on January 9 in Nairobi. Cameroon will be in the country for at least a week preparing for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Organisers of the tour announced on Thursday that apparel company, Puma, have confirmed the friendly against Kenya in Nairobi.
According to Yolanda Andersen who handles Puma’s affairs locally, Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen has approved the friendly match against Kenya.
Harambee Stars players celebrate a goal in a past tournament. Photo: File/Standard
"From the side of Puma, Cameroon FA and the coach, the match is on. The Indomitable Lions will have a full strength squad for the match," she said. With Kenya out of all major international tournaments next year, the friendly against Cameroon will be particularly exciting for local fans with a chance to watch the likes of Inter Milan’s Samuel Eto’o. Kenyan coach Twahir Muhiddin said he is ready for the match and hopes to have a team ready to start camping on January 4.
"We need at least five days of training for us to put up any meaningful opposition against Cameroon. For us it is a serious match and want a positive result from it," he said.
Muhiddin is not concerned that he will lack key foreign-based players, but instead looks at it as an opportunity to give new and local based players a chance to show what they are capable of.
He said: "Even for local players this is a good match. We need to give them an opportunity because I believe there are many players waiting for a chance to represent the country. Look at Gor Mahia mid-fielder Peter Opiyo. If we did not give him a chance no one would have known what he is capable of but he proved himself.
"There is also a player like David Otieno of Sony Sugar. He is a great, creative player who needs international experience."
Muhiddin also at the same time ruled out the scheduled tour of Malaysia on boxing day saying organisers have not got touch with the team on whether the two friendly matches are still on the card.
"We were supposed to play on Boxing Day but so far we have not heard any word from them so ideally the tour is off. I want to ask the players to rest and wait for further instructions later," said the coach. Muhiddin had named a 20-member squad to begin preparations for two friendly matches.
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