NAIROBI, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Pressure is on Tanzania to beat Kenya in their upcoming Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) competition in Dar-es-Salaam on July 28.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa says Kenya has to plan its assault well ahead of the clash reserved for players actively featuring in their respective national championships.
"We are not under pressure. Tanzania feel the heat because they have a borne to pick with us. It is up to them to beat us. But we too want to qualify for CHAN for the first time and we will need the results to favor us," said Mwendwa on Thursday in Nairobi.
Kenya has retained seven players from its team returning from Africa Cup of Nations for their next assignment against Tanzania.
Head coach Sebastian Migne says there will be no room for complacency as Harambee Stars seek another win over their neighbors in what is viewed as a fully-fledged war for the east African teams.
"Coach Migne has named his provisional squad for the upcoming Africa Nations Championships qualifier against Tanzania. He has retained seven players who were in the Africa Cup of Nations squad that returned to the country a week ago following their group stage exit at the competition," said Mwendwa.
The team is expected to report to camp on July 19, ahead of the first leg set to be played on July 28. The second leg will be played in Nairobi on August 4.
The aggregate winner of the two-legged qualifier will face off with either Ethiopia or Djibouti in the second and final qualifying round, to be played on a date set to be announced in due course.
The final tournament finals have been scheduled for January 2020.
Kenya's re-match against Tanzania comes after the Harambee Stars came out 3-2 winners in their Africa Cup of Nations Group C match played on June 27 in Cairo, Egypt.
Harambee Stars will be looking to qualify for the tournament for the first time ever having missed in all the past four editions.
The team missed out on playing the competition last year after Kenya was stripped of the hosting rights and the side will be looking to earn a ticket for next year's tournament in a country yet to be known.
Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) stripped Ethiopia of the hosting rights after the country did not meet the required standards set up by Africa's football governing body.
A new host is expected to be announced soon by CAF.
