The Harambee Stars of Kenya are in the market for a psychologist as they prepare for the return leg fixture with the Super Eagles in their race for the 2014 World Cup.
Kenya coach Adel Amrouche believes his wards did not display enough self-confidence during their first leg fixture with the Eagles in Calabar last month despite snatching a point in the encounter.
Amrouche told the Daily Nation that the psychologist would work on the player at least a month before hosting the African champions.
It will be the first time the Harambee Stars will get one.
“Some of our preparations will target the minds of the players because we need to trust in ourselves. I can look for someone to assign that part,” Amrouche said.
“I congratulate the team on the fantastic work they did in Calabar. That result was achieved against many odds and I am very satisfied.
“I am not thinking about the Super Eagles. We only talk about ourselves and how we can improve. I want to build a team of able players into a family, thereafter we will work towards achieving our goals.”
The Football Kenya Federation has also concluded plans for the Harambee Stars to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers with a friendly against the Black Stars of Ghana five days before hosting Nigeria.
“It’s because of the good show against Nigeria that our friends Ghana want to meet us in a friendly and many other countries have expressed interest,” an official of the FKF was quoted as saying on Friday.
Meanwhile, in the CAF Champions League, it was different tunes for Nigerian clubs. Kano Pillars blamed biased officiating after they crashed out on Sunday on the away goals rule at AC Leopard of Congo while Enugu Rangers beat Vital’O of Burundi 2-0 to advance to the second round.
The first leg match in Burundi ended goalless for Rangers to progress to the second round of the competition at 2-0 on aggregate.
Pillars lost by 3-0 to AC Leopard for this first round tie which made it 4-4 on aggregate, but the Congolese sneaked through having scored a goal in Kano in the first match.
The round defining-goal was from the penalty spot in stoppage time in Brazzaville on Sunday.
Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa said the Ivorian referee robbed his team.
“This is daylight robbery. African football is doomed with such refereeing,” blasted Malikawa.
“It’s just unbelievable and if this is how African football is, then we are all doomed.”
Malikawa claimed the referee struck out a 75th minute penalty he initially awarded the Nigeria champions.
“There were no complaints in the first half, but after the interval the referee became something else.”