We’re Not Planning To ‘punish’ Eagles – Kenya

Nigeria’s Mikel Obi (left) with Kenya players during their World Cup qualifier in Calabar... on March 23. The game ended 1-1.
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Kenya have denied they will retaliate against Nigeria for the alleged mistreatment of the Harambee Stars by the Nigeria Football Federation when they visited the country for their first leg 2014 World Cup qualifier.

The  Super Eagles, who are tied on five points with Malawi in Group F of the  World Cup qualifiers,    have a make-or-break second leg clash   against  the Harambee Stars in Nairobi on June 5.

Football Kenya Federation had alleged that the Harambee Stars and their officials were accommodated in a substandard hotel in Lagos after missing their  flight to Calabar, where they held  the Super Eagles  to a surprise 1-1 draw on March 23.

The Kenyans also claimed that they  were not given any security while in Lagos and had to find a football field to train. They ended up at the Ajao Estate Primary School in Oshodi.

But the NFF dismissed the allegations, insisting that the football house gave the Kenyans a royal welcome.

Nairobi-based Daily Nation reported during the week that  Nigerian football authorities were worried about   “a possible retaliation for the poor treatment they accorded the Kenyan team in March at Calabar when they play Harambee Stars in June”. They claimed that the NFF had yet to inform the Football Kenya Federation of their arrival date.

However, the FKF Chief Executive Officer  Micheal Esakwa said everything needed by the Nigerians would be provided by the country.

He said, “I will be writing to my counterparts in Nigeria because they need to inform us of their plans well in advance. We are not planning anything fishy. Kenyans are hospitable people and the only method we will use to exact revenge for the treatment our team received in Lagos is on the pitch.”

Kenya, who are rooted to the bottom of the group with two points, need victory in the match to reignite their hopes of reaching the last round of  Brazil 2014  qualifiers.

However, the NFF Secretary-General Musa Amadu told Lagos-based Brila FM on Wednesday that the Eagles would arrive in Nairobi from Europe on June 4 ahead of the encounter.

Source: Punch