Zambian Super League side Zesco United’s Kenyan international goalkeeper Ian Otieno has revealed that he aims to help the Harambee Stars get maximum points over Burundi and Ivory Coast in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Harambee Stars currently have three points from their first two matches, in which they lost 2-1 to Gabon before thrashing the Seychelles 5-0.
They are in third place behind the Panthers of Gabon and the Elephants, who have a clean record from the first two rounds of the qualification matches.
Reacting to his call-up to the provisional squad, Otieno says he is elated to be part of the squad, further appreciating head coach Engin Firat for selecting him.
Otieno said he wants to fight for a place in the starting eleven for the two crucial matches.
“I feel good, and I extend gratitude to the technical team and everyone involved,” Otieno said. “Personally, I would like to feature in both games, and as a team, we are targeting a win. That is what we are going for—a win.”
Otieno sends assurance to fans
Otieno has indicated that Kenya, who are playing back-to-back home matches, will take the match with the needed effort to collect maximum points in front of their fans.
“The fans should expect a good outing with the national team. We are going to give it our best shot,” he stated.
The Zega Mambo goalkeeper has been a key member of the Kenyan squad but will face stiff competition for a starting berth.
Besides Otieno, Zanaco Football Club midfielder John Ochieng also earned his maiden call-up to the Kenyan national team. The midfielder has been an ever-present figure for the Bankers this season.
Meanwhile, the Harambee Stars will host their matches at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The staging of the matches in Malawi has been necessitated by the unavailability of Nyayo National Stadium and Kasarani Stadium due to ongoing renovations ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) and the 2027 AFCON, which Kenya will jointly co-host alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
