NAIROBI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will assess the extent of injury suffered by Beijing Rehne striker Ayub Timbe and goalkeeper Patrick Matasia ahead of their Monday clash with Togo in Nairobi in the 2021 Africa Cup Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Head coach Francis Kimanzi said on Friday that the two are still part of his plans and will seek medical clearance before naming the final squad that will take on the Togolese side.
Timbe, who plays for Beijing Rehne, in the Chinese Super League, was returning to the national team after skipping the Mozambique match, but picked up a knee injury on Thursday in Alexandria, where Kenya forced a 1-1 draw with their hosts Egypt.
"Next is Togo in Nairobi. We need to get a win and goals," said Kimanzi.
The coach, however, rues the missed opportunity to dominate the group by winning away in Egypt.
Kimanzi believes his team played well and surprised their opponents and they deserved to win in the North African country.
"Of course I am proud of my players. They did exactly what I asked them to do and fought hard despite us offering the Egyptians a cheap goal," Kimanzi added.
"We took control of the game from the onset, we missed two clear cut chances which should have changed the tide of the game, we were also unlucky to lose our key players - goalkeeper and Timbe - to injuries in the first half. We will review their injuries and advice prior to the Monday game.
Kenya returns home with one point and now sit second on the leaderboard after Comoros claimed a surprise 1-0 win away in Lome, Togo. They lead the group with three points.
"We did everything any team could have done to get a win away and I congratulate my players for the efforts they put up. We take the point and fight on. The injuries changed our game plan, but we still camped in their half," he said.
