Sebastien Migne has once again shocked the nation after he omitted the Kenyan Premier League leading scorer, Allan Wanga, from the 26-man squad set to jet out of the country on Friday for a three-week camp in France, ahead of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt.
Migne instead went for the services of former Kariobangi Sharks striker Masoud Juma, currently unattached after he broke links with Libyan champions Al Nasr last week.
He also favoured the youthful John Avire of Sofapaka instead of the proven goal-poacher Wanga who has also played in the Tanzanian, Angolan and Sudanese leagues.
Juma who has changed clubs four times since January 2018, has not played competitive club football since December 2019, the last time he featured for his former club Dibba Al Furairrah of United Arabs Emirates.
Juma has been training quietly in Kenya with Sharks until early this week when he came out to announce that he has terminated his contract with Al Nasr that he joined early in the year from UAE.
Despite lack of match fitness, Migne still picked the 2017 KPL Golden Boot winner ahead of the current league top scorer Wanga who has netted 18 goals for Kakamega Homeboyz, one better that Masoud’s tally two years ago, for the continental showpiece set to kick off on June 23 in Cairo.
Should Ulinzi Stars striker Enosh Ochieng fails to find the back of the net in the only remaining KPL match on Sunday against relegated Mount Kenya United, Wanga will be crowned the league’s top scorer.
It is not yet clear why Migne, who came under fire after he dropped Jesse Were, the Zesco United leading scorer in the Zambian Premier League, from the provisional squad crossed Wanga’s name with the red pen though age could have played a part considering that Kenya has been pooled in a tough group that has Senegal, Algeria and Tanzania.
In the absence of Wanga, Japan based Michael Olunga will lead the attack with Masoud and Avire, who has seven league goals, as substitutes.
Cristopher Mbamba and Ismael Gonzalez also made it to the 26-man squad to be captained by Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama.
Migne has already made it clear that he will use Patrick Matasi as his number one goalkeeper. That means that Bandari custodian Farouk Shikhalo and John Oyemba of Kariobangi Sharks will provide the cover.
Also chopped from the squad is AFC Leopards midfielder Whyvonne Isuza and Kariobangi Sharks goalkeeper Brian Bwire.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, while handing over the flag to the team challenged players to be good ambassadors for the country even if they do not win the finals with Uhuru emphasizing that it is not about the winning but about giving their best.
Full squad
Patrick Matasi, John Oyemba, Farouk Shikhalo, Anthony Akumu, Ismael Gonzalez, John Avire, Masoud Juma, Victor Wanyama Michael Olunga, Ovella Ochieng, Francis Kahata, Christoher Mbamba, Joash Onyango, Joseph Okumu, Ayub Timbe, Musa Mohammed, David Owino, Bernard Ochieng, Dennis Odhiambo, Eric Johanna, Brian Mandela, Paul Were, Philemon Otieno, Erick Ouma, Johanna Omollo, David Owino.
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