Harambee Stars got their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers off to a losing start following a 2-0 defeat away to South Sudan.
Engin Firat’s men, who were quickly assembled for the match, paid the price for the lack of preparations, as they saw their hosts score two second half goals to gain an advantage in the first-round qualifiers of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Ezibon Malish and Yohanna Paulino scored for the Bright Stars after a goalless first half and Kenya will now need to redeem themselves in the return leg next Sunday.
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Harambee Stars are already assured their place in the tournament, by virtue of being co-hosts, but are still taking part in the qualifiers nonetheless, and having not had enough time on the training ground, it was clear from their lethargic display against the South Sudanese.
Firat named a strong squad that had goalkeeper Bryne Omondi, Geoffrey Ochieng and Ronney Onyango, who were among starters in Harambee Stars’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Cameroon this month, with the likes of Austin Odhiambo, Sydney Lokale, Daniel Sakari and Musa Mohammed among some of the experienced players.
However, that did not deter South Sudan, who waited for their opportunity to punish their visitors to gain an advantage in the first leg match.
The two sides will face off in the return leg in Uganda next Sunday with the winner of the two-legged tie set to take on either Rwanda or Djibouti in the final qualification round.
