Harambee Stars held their final training session on June 9, 2023, at the M-PESA Foundation Academy Grounds before their departure for a four-nations tournament in Mauritius.

All players initially called up have checked in save for, Collins Shichenje, Kenneth Muguna, and Daniel Anyembe who are expected to join the rest of the team in Mauritius.

Joseph Okumu and Masoud Juma, have been ruled out due to injuries.

Coach Firat sees the absence of these experienced players as an opportunity for others to step up and gain valuable national team experience. He stated, “Losing experienced players does have an impact on the team, but we must move forward and give other players the chance to bring something different to the team.”

The upcoming tournament in Mauritius is crucial for the team, as it will provide them with much-needed international experience and proper preparation for the upcoming AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.

Captain Michael Olunga emphasized the significance of the tournament, stating, “The four-nations tournament in Mauritius is a different assignment, and we want to use it as a buildup and preparation for the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers, which will start at the end of the year.”

The captain also echoed the coach’s sentiments, highlighting the opportunity for players to showcase what they are made of.

“It’s a fairly new squad with many fresh faces, and it’s a great opportunity for players who have been performing well, especially in the local scene, to experience international football. We will have a good blend of local and foreign-based players, and hopefully, we will deliver strong performances in the tournament.”

The team will depart for Mauritius on June 10, 2023, at 4 am for the tournament scheduled to kick-off on June 11, to June 18, 2023.

Fixtures

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Mauritius vs Pakistan (Anjalay Coopen Stadium, 3:30 pm)

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Kenya vs Djibouti (Anjalay Coopen Stadium, 6:30 pm)

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Kenya vs Pakistan (Anjalay Coopen Stadium,3:00 pm)

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Djibouti vs Mauritius (Anjalay Coopen Stadium, 6:30 pm)

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Pakistan vs Djibouti (Anjalay Coopen Stadium, 4:00 pm)

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Mauritius vs Kenya (Anjalay Coopen Stadium, 3:30 pm)

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