Inter Milan midfielder joins Kenyan team

Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga joined other players as Kenya's football team embarked on its final preparations ahead of their Sunday clash away with Guinea Bissau as the curtain rises for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup that will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

However, Mariga had to endure long hours on Wednesday at the airport as he missed his luggage.

Head coach Twahir Muhidin remained optimistic, saying the short delay will not affect his preparation program. Kenya national football team Harambee Stars is due to fly out on Thursday to Bissau.

It is six years since Kenya was at the Final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 2004, and Muhidin has won the battle to retain his position as head coach and will seek to cement his place with victory away.

Kenya has called in all its top players abroad including Auxerre striker Dennis Oliech, Patrick Osiako (Mjalby, Sweden), Arnold Origi (FK Moss, Norway), Ibrahim Shikanda (Azam, Tanzania), Robert Mambo (Umea Sweden) and Mariga's younger brother Victor Mugabe (Beerschot, Belgium).

Source: Xinhua