The African champions are in town and so is the Scottish young player of the year. In true Kenyan fashion, I leave it late to get my ticket. The queues are long but the talk of Wanyama v Mikel , Kenya v Nigeria, makes the long wait worthwhile.
Twitter is abuzz as Kenyan fans take on their Nigerian counterparts with the #SomeoneTellNigeria and #SomeoneTellKenya harsh tags trending. In typical African fashion, the Super Eagles of Nigeria reject prior arrangements and change hotels and transportation to and fro the match venue.
This, not because of their tag as African Champions, but just because that is how we roll in Africa. The unwritten rule for the traveling party is: Never trust your host. For the host: Frustrate your opponents as reason would allow. The Super Eagles might have been weary of being paid in kind with their coin. In the reverse fixture at Calabar, the Kenyan team had to train in a dilapidated bare soil field in some primary school.
The Nigerian FA refused to take responsibility in the debacle of words that ensued. The Harambee Stars forced a one all draw. The Nigerians thought the Kenyans were lucky, the Kenyans thought likewise. With the Kenyan coach, Amarouche, and captain Dennis Oliech suspended, it was always going to be tough call but with Victor Wanyama, reason for hope.
At the start, the game panned out as it had been planned by the respective coaches on the chalk boards. The Super eagles of Nigeria playing with a high-line and pressing the Kenyans quickly. The Harambee stars of Kenya with two lines, each, a bank of four guarding their goal the way a lion patrols its territory.
Brian Mandela who turns out for South African PSL side, Santos, must have been the leader of the pack for the Kenyans as Nigeria’s tactics worked the first few run ins. Early on, with seconds on the clock, Mikel managed to steal in on the defense only for the striker to spurn the chance.
As expected, it was the stand in captain ,Victor Wanyama, the 'cherry of the pie' player for a stage fright inflicted Harambee stars - getting the tackles in, winning possessions and with a couple of delightful long balls, launching the attack on the right by releasing the right back- who served as an inspiration to his less illustrious team mates. The eagles were flying but, thanks to his efforts, as one tweet put it: #SomeoneTellNigeria that Eagles can fly but they can't reach the stars.
The few times Harambee stars made forays into the Nigerian half, you could sense the jitters in the Nigerian defense. Like when another hopeful ball forward dilly dallied in the Super Eagles box allowing Calabar’s hero, local boy Francis Kahata who turns out for Thika United, a half chance.
The half chance spurred the Kenyans, as the 12th man came into play with the noise decibels rising at the Moi International sports complex. Delightful through balls, a corner here and offside there and Stephen Keshi and his assistant Daniel Amoukachi had to rise up from their seats.
While for the Nigerians the left wing was their preferred route to glory, Harambee stars opted for the opposite flank with Jamal Mohammed combining well with right back David Owino to good effect. At the middle of the pack, the battle of the titans was on as Chelsea’s Obi Mikel and Celtic’s Victor Wanyama sought to swing possession to their team’s favor.
So intense it was, this battle, the referee had to step in at some point at the tail end of the first half when Mikel played into Wanyama’s hands gifting a needless free kick to the Harambee stars. The Kenyan captain took the chance to cajole the frustrated Obi Mikel to the delight of the partisan crowd.
The half ended with the Harambee stars on a high. Two of their heroes, Wanyama and Jamal Mohammed, combined delightfully at the edge of the box sending the former straight on goal although the trough ball didn't fall kindly enough- Wanyama sending his half volley high.
Second half, and the battle of the game continues. This time Wanyama fouls Mikel. By now, I believe the hype. Victor Wanyama Mugubi is all that and more. Celtic has a real battle in their hands keeping him in their books. So effortlessly doing it for club and country! The very best struggled with this transition I believe.
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Mikel Obi makes a burst through the center, Victor Wanyama keeps tabs on the Chelsea man and Wanyama forces him wide and then, God forbid, he suddenly pulls up. Possibly a cramp and you can sense the despair as Kenya loses its Spatracus. He jogs back in a few minutes later and the stadium erupts like the gladiator sun, sand and blood arena.
By now, the game plan for the Super eagles has changed; the ball has to move out wide to the wings for any meaningful attack. Such is the imperiousness and domineering influence of Victor Wanyama in the central areas.
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He goes down again. This time it looks serious. Victor Wanyama had indicated he needed some rest after the long season. He is human after all, and it’s no mean task carrying a team on your shoulders. Apologies to Celtic and Harambee stars. A case in point: As Wanyama limps, Harambee stars’s challenge turns limp. Obi Mikel’s influence comes to fore and in the dying embers of the game; the Super Eagles are dominating again.
Finally, the Super Eagles get their goal. Musa Ahmed late on, makes up for his early first half miss. A route one ball beats the Kenyan defense, the keeper comes too early and with a delightful chip, the only touch, it is a goal. With that, Victor Wanyama’s World Cup Brazil 2014 dream is buried. The relief in the Super Eagles camp is palpable.
For Kenya, a new hero. To the world, Kenya's gift to yours truly.
