NAIROBI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's head coach Sebastian Migne is seeking to build on the outstanding display Harambee Stars showed against Ghana when his team hosts Malawi here in a friendly on Tuesday.
With Kenya's next assignment set for Oct. 10 and 13 in two legged fixtures against Ethiopia in Nairobi and Addis Ababa, Migne wants to use the friendly tie to test a few playing patterns as the country eyes to seal their ticket from Group F of the Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifiers.
Migne has maintained the same team and will not have the service of Joash Onyango, who was red carded in the match against Ghana.
Football Kenya Federation chairman Nick Mwendwa says the match is critical for the country as it prepares to make a full assault on the AFCON qualifiers and urged fans to show up in large numbers to cheer on the home team.
"We urge Kenyans to come out in large numbers and support the team even though Tuesday is a working day," Mwendwa said on Monday.
Malawi arrived in Kenya on Monday morning from Rabat, where they lost 3-0 to hosts Morocco in the AFCON qualifiers.
Kenya will be hoping to replicate an outstanding performance against Ghana even as coach Migne rues the absence of his utility midfield maestro Ayub Timbe who plays for Beijing Renhe in the Chinese Super League.
Timbe was handed a three match ban and fined 10,000 U.S. dollars by the African football governing body CAF following an incident that occurred in Freetown, Sierra Leone where Kenya lost 2-1 to the hosts.
"I am disappointed with the verdict, which basically means that I won't play in the upcoming three AFCON qualifiers," said Timbe.
The midfield player will however be available for selection when Kenya plays Ghana away in Accra and hosts Sierra Leone in Nairobi in November.
There are 12 groups in the qualifying campaign and only the top teams will make it to the finals to join hosts Cameroon in 2019.
Three best runners-up from the 12 groups, will also be considered for the 16 team tournament that runs in June.
