Kenya To Play DR Congo as Replacement for Gambia Friendly

Kenya will now play fellow 2019 Africa Cup of Nations participants DR Congo in Spain after their friendly with the Gambia was canceled.

Kenya had it in place to play a friendly against the Gambia but the Scorpions wouldn’t be available due to unknown reasons.

Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa announced on Wednesday that they have called off the Gambia match.

“We have secured a friendly against DR Congo and it will be played in Madrid, Spain. It is just a one-hour flight from France and the coach is very okay with that,” Mwendwa told Goal.com.

FKF had announced a fortnight ago that they had lined up the friendly against the Scorpions on June 17 in preparation for the upcoming 2019 African Cup of Nations finals slated for June 21 to July 19 in Egypt.

“The friendly against DRC will replace the one that we had planned earlier against the Gambia, which will not be played,” Mwendwa added.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “It is unfortunate that the Gambia declined to play against us even after we had negotiated and agreed on the friendly. We have no problem with them because they know better why they canceled the buildup.”   [/perfectpullquote]

The friendly against the Leopards will be played on June 15 in Madrid where DR Congo will be setting a two-week camp.

Kenya will be making a return to the continental showpiece after 15 years while the Gambia failed to qualify for the tournament after drawing 1-1 away to Algeria.

The East Africans are in Group C alongside Algeria, Tanzania and pre-tournament favorites Senegal.

Harambee Stars, set to leave for their three-week camp in Paris on May 31 before departing for Cairo on June 18, will camp at Marcousis. They will play the first match of the Afcon against Algeria on June 21.