NAIROBI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenya coach Sebastien Migne has kept faith with the team that played against Malawi and Ghana as he named a 21-member team for their clash against Ethiopia in the Africa Nations Cup qualifier.
However, China-based Ayub Timbe, a winger with Beijing Renhe, will continue to sit out of Kenyan national team Harambee Stars as he serves his ban. The surprise inclusion will be Captain Victor Wanyama and Brian Mandela despite the two ruling themselves unavailable for the last two matches.
Wanyama has shaken off his knee injury and has featured in the last two games for his English Premier League side and will be available for selection for the qualifier against Ethiopia. Mandela, on the other hand, will return to the squad after serving his one match ban for the Ghana clash. Mandela plays for his South African Club Maritzburg United and has also returned to action after four months out with injury.
"Wanyama is my captain and the best player in the country and he is a good guy," said Migne. "I am building a team here and Wanyama has to come and share some feeling with the squad. He was injured before."
Kenya will take on Ethiopia on Oct 10 away in Bahir Dar before hosting the Walya Antelopes three days later in Nairobi. The squad is largely composed of players, who took part in the last two games against Ghana and Malawi.
Also included for the two legged tie is sensational winger Paul Were. The coach has a reserve list of nine players to be called in should any of the 21 players fail to show up.
Coach Migne says Kenya must win the two matches against Ethiopia to hold any realistic chances of sailing through from the group.
Kenya are in Group F together with Ghana, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. Each team in the group has three points after the first two matches. There are 12 groups in the qualifiers and only the winners and the three best losers will secure tickets to join hosts Cameroon in the finals in 2019.
