Kenyan midfielders, MacDonald Mariga and Robert Mambo, will miss Saturday's decisive FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria due to injury, local football officials have announced.
Football Kenya Limited vice-chairman Titus Kasuve, however, said the Denmark-based midfielder Emmanuel Ake and striker Dennis Oliech of Auxerre in France had been recalled for the Group 2 tie. Kenya may be out of the running for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but their performance can determine the eventual winners of the group.
A win against Nigeria will pave the way for Tunisia, which plays away to Mozambique to maintain their lead and make sure of their place.
Kenya, also needs to win in order to reach the CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola but a defeat would mean an end for German coach Antoine Hey, who has only won one game in five qualifying matches.
"The writing is on the wall. One of our conditions was qualifying for the African Cup of Nations," Kasuve told a news conference on Monday, adding that the coach had been pressed to include Ake and Oliech in the team for the crucial tie.
"The coach has had his way in the last five matches and we have seen the results. The fans have been calling for the changes. It is time to bring in everybody in the last ditch effort to qualify for Angola," Kasuve said.
Antoine Hey has continually been at logger-heads with the Football Kenya over the inclusion of certain players in the squad to play Nigeria on Saturday.
Provisional Harambee Stars squad:
Goalkeepers - Willis Ochieng, Wilson Oburu, David Okello
Defenders - Julius Owino, Ibrahim Shikanda, John Njoroge, Pascal Ochieng, George Owino, Musa Otieno, Joakin Atudo
Midfielders - Peter Opiyo, Patrick Osiako, Victor Mugabe, Emmanuel Ake, Hillary Echesa
Forwards - Patrick Oboya, Dennis Oliech, George Odhiambo, Allan Wanga
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