M. KisengeDuke Abuya credits CAF experience for good show in AFCON Qualifiers
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 31.03.21. | 21:06
Nkana midfielder says experince gained from Caf inter-club tournaments inpired his performance
The experience Harambee Stars midfielder Duke Abuya gathered from playing in the CAF Inter Club competitions with his parent club Nkana FC inspired him to put in a decent show in the final 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt and Togo.
Abuya made his debut in the qualifiers when he came in the second half against Egypt on Thursday last week and forced his name to the starting team against Togo on Monday.
The creative midfielder's performance procured him praises from fans who noted that he took his chance and proved a point to the technical bench.
Good game, Pongezi The Harambee Stars. But I think Cliff Nyakeya and Duke Abuya should have started they are quite pacy wangesumbua hao jamaa. Now we focus on World cup qualifiers ????. Joash Onyango man of the Match ???? #MamaMiradi
— Millicent Omanga (@MillicentOmanga) March 25, 2021
Abuya admitted that the two matches were tough on paper but the exposure gained from confronting football giants in the continent at club level helped him settle and enable Stars to round up the qualifying campaign on a positive note.
Nkana secured the ticket to CAFChampions League after winning the Zambian league last year but have since been relegated to the second tier after failing to advance the first round.
The Kitwe based club is in pool B of the Caf Confederations Cup alongside defending champions RS Berkane, Algerian giants JS Kabylie and Cameroonian outfit Cotonsport.
"We played strong opponents in the final qualifiers but the boys were determined to save the Kenyan face. I did not struggle to cope with the pace and tactical demands of the game as I have been exposed to that level when playing for Nkana," he said.
The former Kariobangi Sharks man who made his Stars debut against Tanzania in 2019 during the Chan qualifiers expressed hope that his show would earn him consistent call-ups to the team.
Duke Abuya is a baller
— Ernest Ngugi (@ernest__ngugi) March 25, 2021
Abuya who has played six matches for Stars had lastly featured in the team in the 1-0 to Mozambique in an international friendly staged at Kasarani Stadium in October 2019.
"It felt good to be back to the team after almost two years out. It is the dream of every player to represent his country in international matches and I hope I will be considered in the World Cup qualifiers and any other assignments," he added.
The former GFE105 player gained fame after netting the equalizer when Sharks confronted English side Everton at the Kasarani in July 2019.
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