Why Olunga, Joash and two other miss from Harambee Stars line up
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 29.03.21. | 18:13
Michael Olunga, Joash Onyango, Lawrence Juma and Ian Otieno have reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
Al Duhail forward Michael Olunga, Joash Onyango, Ian Otieno and Lawrence Juma missed from the Harambee Stars line up to take on Togo in the final African Cup of Nations qualifier after allegedly testing positive for Covid-19.
A source close to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) revealed to Mozzart Sport that results returned indicating that the quartet had tested positive for Covid-19.
"All players were tested before leaving the country and upon getting to Lome (Togo) they underwent further tests in line with the country's travel regulations but we were surprised to get results that the four players had tested positive."
"As a precaution, the four did not travel with the team to the stadium for the match and are isolating in the hotel," said the source.
Masud Juma has been deployed in the centre forward position while Kevin Kimani replaces Lawrence Juma in the middle of the pack.
Ulinzi Stars custodian James Saruni has been drafted into the starting line up in place of Ian Otieno while Clyde Senaji will stand in for Joash Onyango.
Here's our starting lineup ????#Tunaweza pic.twitter.com/qf1OTfO8HC
— Harambee Stars (@harambee__stars) March 29, 2021
This is the second consecutive time that Kenya has been hit by reports of players testing positive for Covid-19 with the first coming in their trip to Moroni to face Comoros.
Mulee called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate the conduct of Comoros officials after they claimed six Kenyan players were Covid-19 positive minutes before the clash.
“It was very unfortunate the match was delayed for a long period because Comoros tried to lie and unsettle my players by saying some of them were Covid-19 positive," Mulee told Goal when the team arrived from Comoros on Monday. It was all false and I hope Caf will step in and take action because the standoff instilled fear in my players.”
“We left Kenya after we had already been tested for Covid-19 and what they did they tried to target some of our key players with the false rumours, and I am happy Caf stepped in and said we play with the Covid-19 certificates that we had [from Kenya] because their target was to have our key players barred from playing in the match but Caf came in and said we play,” said Mulee.
The clash is slated for a 7 PM at the Stade de Kégué Lomé.
