Kenya national team coach Benni McCarthy expressed that his side will undertake no favours when they face Group F leaders Ivory Coast in their final CAF FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night. Kick-off is at 9pm (CAT, GMT+2).
CURRENT FORM
The Elephants currently occupy top spot in Group F, a mere point ahead of Gabon heading into their final qualifier.
While Ivory Coast need a victory to qualify for next year’s tournament, the popular African footballing nation recorded a mammoth 7-0 win over Seychelles last Friday.
With the Ivorians flying, Kenya have accumulated just 12 points from nine matches played and are out of reach regarding any kind of qualification.
The Harambee Stars bagged a 1-0 win over Burundi last time out, a result that put them in third place ahead of Gabon who are on 10 points so far.
WHAT WAS SAID
Speaking ahead of Kenya’s last set of qualifiers, Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy expressed that his side will not do any favours, particularly for log leaders Ivory Coast.
“It is World Cup qualifiers, it is opportunity for us to try and collect maximum points, but we know what is at stake as well, and we know that it’s us going into the lion’s Den because for Ivory Coast a win will definitely secure them automatic qualification for the World Cup,” McCarthey said.
“We know we are not there to do favours for anyone, so for us we are going there to play a match against a team that we want to win, we want three points, and that is our task, our objective, and for us to lose, we have to lose to a team that we knew, we had no opportunities, no possibilities of winning the game, that is the only way.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ivory Coast: Oumar Diakité – The Ivory Coast attacker will go into their final qualifier with confidence in his stride after getting his name on the scoresheet in his side’s 7-0 win over Seychelles last time out. Diakite will also be spurred on by the fact that Ivory Coast will need to find the back of the net with qualification foremost in their minds.
Kenya: Rambok Ogam – Ogam has been a bright spark for Kenya throughout the qualifiers and managed to net three goals in two Group F matches so far. The young talent also scored the winner against Burundi last Thursday and will no doubt be eager to continue his positive showing in front of goal this week.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Games: 1
Ivory Coast wins: 0
Kenya wins: 0
Draws: 1
