Matasi blunder denies Harambee Stars win over DRC, Timbe limps off

Harambee Stars keeper Patrick Matasi gifted DR Congo a late equaliser in a friendly match between the two sides that ended 1-1 at the Estadio de Santa Ana in Madrid on Saturday, 15 June.

Michael Olunga gave Kenya the lead in the 25^th minute but Sebastien Migne’s men were unable to hold on for the win as West Ham United’s wing-back Arthur Masuaku’s free-kick from just outside the area in the 87^th minute took a deflection with Kenya keeper Matasi unable to hold on to it with the ball sliding past him.

Matasi had been outstanding for Stars, saving a penalty he had conceded in the opening minutes of the second half to deny Cedric Bakambu shot and pulling off some good saves to deny the Congolese.

Kenya may be staring at injury concerns before the start of the tournament, Ayub Timbe having limped off the pitch just 10 minutes after the restart with what looked like a muscle strain. A knee injury had kept him out of action for more than five months leading up to Stars’ preparations.

The injury comes barely a week after defender Brian Mandela was ruled out of the AFCON after sustaining a knee injury in training and his defensive counterpart Musa Mohammed currently nursing a knock picked up in the friendly win against Madagascar last weekend.

Defenders Joash Onyango and Joseph Okumu partnered for the first time at the heart of defence with Olunga coming in to lead the attack after replacing Masud Juma in the 81^st minute.

Stars will now return back to their base in Paris to finalize on their preparations before leaving for Cairo on 19 June, four days before their opening Group C match against Algeria.

The Kenyans, who are back in Afcon after 15 years, will tackle Algeria on 23 June, Tanzania (June 27) and Senegal (July 1) in group matches in Cairo.

Kenya is expected back in Paris Sunday morning after a planned nigh stay-over in Madrid on Saturday.

The teams

Kenya: Patrick Matasi (GK), Philemon Otieno, Abud Omar, Joseph Okumu , Joash Onyango, Victor Wanyama, Dennis Odhiambo, Erick Johanna (Ovella Ochieng 88’), Ayub Timbe (Paul Were 56’), Francis Kahata (Ismael Gonzalez 76’), Michael Olunga (Masud Juma 81’)

DR Congo:Ley Matampi (GK), Arthur Masuaku, Marcel Tisserand, Christian Luyindama, Djos Issama, Youssouf Mulumbu (Merveille Bokadi 81’), Chancel Mbemba, Paul-José M’Poku (Jacques Maghoma 78’), Trésor Mputu (Elia Meschak 59’), Yannick Bolasie (Johnathan Bolingi 67’), Cedric Bakambu (Britt Asombalonga 73’)