Harambee Stars beat Namibia's Brave Warriors 1-0 ending a twelve year losing streak against the Brave Warriors at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Saturday. The win before a near capacity stadium, also put Stars at the top of Group Two in the World Cup/Africa Cup Nations qualifier on 10 points.
Guinea, who until Saturday were the group leaders with seven points, play Zimbabwe Sunday in another Group Two match.
The recalled Jamal "Malo Malo" Mohammed slotted home a 44th minute penalty awarded after Collin Benjamin hacked down John Njoroge to send the home fans into celebration.
Jamal "Malo Malo" Mohamed, scorer of the goal that sunk Namibia
The goal was a relief to thousands of fans who turned up to watch the game but were getting impatient with the blunt attack. The absence of suspended AJ Auxerre striker Dennis Oliech was clearly felt upfront with Stars lacking a hitman.
Mulinge Munandi, coming back to the team after a two year absence, made his presence felt in the fourth minute when he sent an inviting cross towards the Namibia goal, but Patrick Oboya, Macdonald Mariga and Allan Wanga were too late to tap the ball home.
Alan Wanga in action
FK Siad Most midfielder Patrick Oboya, who also came back to the team after a one match suspension, excited the fans with his deft footwork in the early exchanges of the game. In the sixth minute, captain Robert Mambo failed to score from a Njoroge cross.
Six minutes later, there was a scramble at the Namibian goal with both Wanga and Mambo failing to tap home the ball.
Paulus Shipanga’s dangerous free kick on the edge of Kenya’s goal was cleared by Munandi as the match crawled to the quarter hour mark. Three minutes later, the Brave Warriors forced a corner kick. On the other side of the pitch, Attel Mbaha in Namibia’s goal stretched to stop Mohammed in what should have been Stars’ opening goal.
The Kenyan attack was unrelenting with Wanga again nearly beating Mbaha in goal. Mohammed shot wide from the edge of Namibia’s goal as Benjamin, who turns out for German Bundesliga side Hamburg, had a weak shot at goal on the stroke of half time.
Line-ups: Kenya: Noah Ayuko, John Njoroge, Mulinge Munandi, George Owino, Edgar Ochieng, Austin Makacha, Jamal Mohammed (Kevin Ochieng), Macdonald Mariga, Robert Mambo, Allan Wanga (Francis Ouma), Patrick Oboya (Patrick Shikokoti).
Namibia: Attel Mbaha, Hummel George, Hartmann Twamboa, Richard Ganiseh, Stephen Gougab, Oliver Risser, Collin Benjamin, Paulus Shipanga, Sydney Plastfies, Quinton Jacobs, Wilko Risser
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