Harambee Stars are preparing for their crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Seychelles with assistant coach Vasili Manousakis admitting that squad selection has become their biggest challenge.
Kenya suffered a setback in their last outing, falling 3-1 to The Gambia in a match that exposed key weaknesses, especially in the first half. The Scorpions struck early through Sheriff Sinyan, Yankuba Minteh, and Musa Barrow, putting Kenya on the back foot. Despite Ryan Ogam’s late consolation goal, Harambee Stars were unable to mount a full comeback.
Reflecting on the performance, Manousakis noted that the defeat was more about Kenya’s own shortcomings than what The Gambia produced. He pointed out that the team started with intensity but individual errors proved costly, affecting morale and allowing the opponents to dictate the tempo.
Ahead of the Seychelles clash, the focus is firmly on correcting those mistakes. The technical bench has emphasized working on both physical and mental aspects to ensure the team starts strong and sustains their performance throughout the 90 minutes. According to Manousakis, they are not dwelling on how Seychelles play but rather on sharpening their own tactical approach to make the team more resilient.
The assistant coach underlined that the main task now lies in selecting a formidable starting lineup and substitutes capable of influencing the game from start to finish. With the pressure of bouncing back after the Gambia defeat, finding the right balance in squad selection has become a major talking point within the camp.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves, fix our errors and play on the front foot. Starting well is crucial, and that gives us the challenge of selecting players who can make a difference right from the beginning,” Manousakis explained.
Kenya currently sits fifth in Group F with six points, while Seychelles remain bottom of the standings without a single point. Ivory Coast lead the group with 19 points, followed by Gabon on 18. Burundi and The Gambia occupy third and fourth place with 10 and seven points, respectively.
With the race for World Cup qualification heating up, Harambee Stars will be keen to secure maximum points against Seychelles to keep their campaign alive and restore confidence among the players and fans.
