Harambee Stars promised millions if they beat Comoros
Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa (right) receives a piece of cake from Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama during a dinner organised by the team's motivational partner Odibet at Safari Park hotel in Nairobi on November 12, 2020, ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations return leg qualifier against Comoros on November 15, 2020.
What you need to know:
- Stars have drawn three out of three games against Egypt, Togo and Comoros, and still have trips to Lome and Moroni to negotiate through
- Odibet will, among others, pay a winning bonus of up to Sh5 million to Harambee Stars players and technical bench members in the event of a win against Comoros in Moroni on Sunday
- The betting firm had also promised the team Sh2.5 million for a win over the same team in Nairobi on Wednesday but the game ended in a draw
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa maintains the men's national football team remains on course to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
He spoke on Thursday night during a dinner hosted for Harambee Stars players and technical bench by the federation and betting firm Odibet, who are the official motivational partner of the team.
Stars have drawn three out of three games against Egypt, Togo and Comoros, and still have trips to Lome and Moroni to negotiate through.
"We lost points but didn't lose the match," explained Mwendwa.
"We are still in with a chance of qualification because we have three matches to play and the other teams in the group will lose points at some point. It is still an open game."
Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa addresses Harambee Stars players during a dinner organised by the team's motivational partner Odibet at Safari Park hotel in Nairobi on November 12, 2020, ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations return leg qualifier against Comoros on November 15, 2020.
As per the terms of this deal, Odibet will, among others, pay a winning bonus of up to Sh5 million to Harambee Stars players and technical bench members in the event of a win against Comoros in Moroni on Sunday.
The betting firm had also promised the team Sh2.5 million for a win over the same team in Nairobi on Wednesday but the game ended in a draw.
"We are motivated by all the support from the fans, federation, government and sponsors. The squad is pained because we failed to get the result we wanted on Wednesday but it's good we have a chance to put things straight at the weekend," said Origi.
The experienced keeper also spoke on the goal he conceded in Wednesday's 1-1 draw.
"The ball swerved mid-air and I was flat-footed. Maybe we should have defended better as a team and these are some of the things we are working on."
Harambee Stars players during a dinner organised by the team's motivational partner Odibet at Safari Park hotel in Nairobi on November 12, 2020, ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations return leg qualifier against Comoros on November 15, 2020.
Stars are set to leave for Moroni on Saturday morning via a chartered flight.
"We have a responsibility to grow football in Kenya. That's why we are distributing thousands of balls to teams in the grassroots and now we are here to motivate the national team players in international assignment. This is a journey we are walking with this team towards helping them achieve success and possibly win titles," said Odibet General Manager Dedan Mungai.
Egypt and Togo are the other teams in Kenya's group. These two sides will meet in Lome and Cairo on Saturday and Wednesday respectively.
