Striker Michael Olunga scored twice as Kenya beat DR Congo 2-1 in an international friendly played at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Sunday.
Olunga, who was celebrating his 23rd birthday, scored his third goal in two matches having also hit the back of the net in last Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Uganda at the same venue.
Olunga, who was celebrating his 23rd birthday, scored his third goal in two matches having also hit the back of the net in last Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Uganda at the same venue.
Kenya head coach Stanley Okumbi was impressed with the performance of the team. The victory sees Kenya maintain their unbeaten run in 10th consecutive match, building up the confidence of the side ahead of the Total Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2019 qualifiers in June.
“It was very good for us to win especially against a team that is placed higher than us on the rankings. It gives us so much confidence. We have seen what we need to work on. We don’t stop from here,” said Okumbi, appointed last year to the helm.
Harambee Stars captain, Victor Wanyama was full of praise for his team mates especially for their fighting spirit.
“Even when DR Congo equalized, we never stopped fighting and we kept pushing. We played very well and showed character. There are also new players coming into the team and they did so well,” said the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.
The hosts opened the lead in the sixth minute with Olunga who scored the solitary goal in the sides’ last meeting in Lubumbashi last year hitting the back of the net. Defender Brian Mandela powered from deep in his defensive position, skipped past a few Congolese players and put Olunga through on the left with the striker cutting in and shooting past Joel Kiassumbua with his weaker right foot.
Neskeens Kebano who had been a thorn for the Kenyan rear came close in the 18th minute but his free-kick from the right after curling over the wall hit the side netting.
Kenya had two chances back-to-back in the 32nd minute. First, Olunga broke through on the left from a Samwel Onyango through pass with his shot saved by Kiassumba’s feet. Onyango had a chance to himself with his curling effort from distance ripped over for a corner.
Four minutes on the turn, Jonathan Bolingi came inches close to drawing his side level but his well sprung header from a Kebano cross went just wide.
Two minutes to the break, Junior Kabananga tested Boniface Oluoch with a ferocious shot from inside the box, but the Gor Mahia shot stopper proved equal to the task putting a strong arm to the effort turning it behind for a corner.
At the start of the second half, Onyango in his second cap for the national team should have spiced it up with a goal after being put through in the box, but Chancel Mbemba managed to race back and pulled an important tackle to knock off the goal just as the Ulinzi man prepared to pull the trigger.
The visitors drew level on the half hour mark when Gael Kakuta curled the ball over the wall and into the bottom left of Oluoch’s goal from a freekick.
However, Olunga hit the winner eleven minutes later when he rushed into the box to meet an Onyango cross, tapping home unmarked.
By cafonline.com
“It was very good for us to win especially against a team that is placed higher than us on the rankings. It gives us so much confidence. We have seen what we need to work on. We don’t stop from here,” said Okumbi, appointed last year to the helm.
Harambee Stars captain, Victor Wanyama was full of praise for his team mates especially for their fighting spirit.
“Even when DR Congo equalized, we never stopped fighting and we kept pushing. We played very well and showed character. There are also new players coming into the team and they did so well,” said the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.
The hosts opened the lead in the sixth minute with Olunga who scored the solitary goal in the sides’ last meeting in Lubumbashi last year hitting the back of the net. Defender Brian Mandela powered from deep in his defensive position, skipped past a few Congolese players and put Olunga through on the left with the striker cutting in and shooting past Joel Kiassumbua with his weaker right foot.
Neskeens Kebano who had been a thorn for the Kenyan rear came close in the 18th minute but his free-kick from the right after curling over the wall hit the side netting.
Kenya had two chances back-to-back in the 32nd minute. First, Olunga broke through on the left from a Samwel Onyango through pass with his shot saved by Kiassumba’s feet. Onyango had a chance to himself with his curling effort from distance ripped over for a corner.
Four minutes on the turn, Jonathan Bolingi came inches close to drawing his side level but his well sprung header from a Kebano cross went just wide.
Two minutes to the break, Junior Kabananga tested Boniface Oluoch with a ferocious shot from inside the box, but the Gor Mahia shot stopper proved equal to the task putting a strong arm to the effort turning it behind for a corner.
At the start of the second half, Onyango in his second cap for the national team should have spiced it up with a goal after being put through in the box, but Chancel Mbemba managed to race back and pulled an important tackle to knock off the goal just as the Ulinzi man prepared to pull the trigger.
The visitors drew level on the half hour mark when Gael Kakuta curled the ball over the wall and into the bottom left of Oluoch’s goal from a freekick.
However, Olunga hit the winner eleven minutes later when he rushed into the box to meet an Onyango cross, tapping home unmarked.
By cafonline.com
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