NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 13 – Canhembe Amancio stepped off the bench to score a 69th minute goal as visiting Mozambique beat Kenya’s Harambee Stars 1-0 in an international friendly match at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Sunday.
It was a reality check for Francis Kimanzi’s charges, coming just over a month before the qualification journey for the 2021 African Cup of Nations kicks off.
Stars were wasteful infront of goal in both halves as they had more chances to score than the mambas, but a lack of sharpness in the face of goal meant a loss at home and massive points to pick for Kimanzi and his technical bench.
Kimanzi had made alterations from the side that played Uganda last month, Faruk Shikalo earning his debut in the absence of Patrick Matasi while Cliff Nyakeya also earned his chance, starting off on the right with skipper Victor Wanyama back and partnering Lawrence Juma in midfield.
Michael Olunga had Kenya’s two best chances in the first half, first volleying over after Wanyama’s long searching ball found his run inside the box.
Minutes later, he did well to get some space after running down the left flank but his venomous left foot shot stung the keeper’s arms to be turned behind for a corner.
Nyakeya who was enterprising on the right had a scorching shot from range fly into the keeper’s arms while in the 35th minute, he turned provider to lay in a cross which Olunga connected to but went straight to the keeper.
In the second half, Kimanzi made changes with Duke Abuya coming on for Clifton Miheso, Jesse Were coming in for a two-man attack after replacing Kenneth Muguna.
Stars continued dominating the chances but it was the Mambas who would make the most of the game, Amancio dancing past three defenders and keeper Shikalo before tapping the ball into an empty net.
Stars piled pressure to get the equalizer but none was forthcoming. Wanyama’s cross from the left was not headed home by Olunga while Were missed a glorious chance to break his national team goal drought rifling the loose ball over.
