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Egypt arrive for U23 clash with Kenya


The Egypt U23 football team jetted in the country on Friday morning ahead of the All Africa Games qualifying return leg clash against Kenya this weekend.

The North African contingent that included a 32 man delegation of players, technical bench and journalists touched down at JKIA at around 7:30am aboard EgyptAir, after a four hour delay from Cairo.

The team was received by Football Kenya Federation officials, Deputy Ambassador of Egypt in Kenya Ahmed Ansary and the Machakos County Government’s Minister for Tourism, Sports and Culture Faith Wathome.

The Egyptian contingent was driven straight from JKIA and to Machakos town under tight security by police chase cars belonging to the County Government.

This match will be played at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County on Sunday evening with the Egyptians carrying a 3-0 lead from the first leg encounter played last weekend.

STRONG PLAYERS

Coach Hossam El Badry said he is confident his men will wrap up the tie and progress to the next phase of the competition.

“Kenya are a strong group of players but they lack the technical ability. We have a job to do because am told some of their players missed the first leg due to club commitments but will be available for Sunday’s match,” Badru told Nairobi News.

Kenya needs to win this contest by four clear goals to be assured of progression, a task the team coach Bobby Williamson says his charges are ready for.

“The learning curve continues with this lads and an early goal can always change everything in the match. We played very well in Cairo, and that is what we want to show the fans who will turn up in Machakos on Sunday,” Williamson said.

A 3-0 win for Kenya in this clash could take this contest, which is a repeat of the 1987 final of the All Africa Games, into extra time and post match penalties.

Kenya has been training at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani in readiness for this tie, with Williamson handing call ups to Micheal Olunga and Enock Agwanda in a bid to add extra punch to the strike force.