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Coach James Nandwa should be a happy-man after his U23 charges proved critics wrong despite going 1-0 down to star-studded AFCON-bound Teranga Lions of Senegal in a friendly match on Sunday 15 January at Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar.
Senegal needed Papis Cisse's effort to win the match in the 63rd minute after dancing through the defense to find the back of the net.
determined squad
Thumbs up for the junior team, give credit where it deserves, though the team had ill-preparations precisely an hour's training session, their coordination was awesome; they fought like warriors in war, giving Senegal a run for their money as they made Kenya proud.
Good defensive display from the word go led by AFC Leopards captain Martin Imbalambala, Edwin Wafula Milton Milimo and Musa Mohammed, keeping the on-form Demba Ba, Suleiman Camara and Mousa Sow at bay with Thika United custodian Joel Bataro denying them scoring chances.
good job
If they had had perfect preparations, by the end of the 90 minutes, probably it would have been a stalemate or even a shocking victory as Gor Mahia’s sensational midfielder Rama Salim and skipper Moses Arita caused havoc to the Senegalese defense.
Hopefully the same confidence and determination will be carried into their next match against the Syli National of Guinea on Wednesday 18 January. But Football Kenya Federation (FKF) shouldn't chest-thump about the results, instead take national team's affairs with the seriousness they deserve, to avoid pressure in this young players who need time to be groomed into a reputable senior team.
Line-up
Joel Bataro, Musa Mohammed, Martin Imbalambala, Edwin Wafula (Teddy Akumu), Bernard Mangoli (Paul Mungai), Rama Salim, Edwin Mwaura, Francis Kahata (Ibrahim Kitawi), Moses Arita (Jacob Kelly), Edwin Mwaura (Kevin Omondi).
