The East African neighbours Kenya and Tanzania clash on Thursday for the first time in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations in their second game of Group C expected to raise temperatures among the citizens of both countries.
Both sides lost to a score line of 2-0 to giants Algeria and Senegal respectively in the group opener matches and each of the two neighbours will be keen to bounce back when they face off other in the East Africa derby.
The Harambee Stars failed to get a shot on target as they fell to defeat in their opening clash of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations against Algeria and will have to respond quickly if they are to have a chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
They were poor for large spells and did not do enough with their share of the ball as Algeria looked threatening every time they got forward with Kenya needing to improve on both sides of the ball.
Kenya never looked like getting in to the game and after going in two goals behind at the break against Algeria, the game was over before half-time with Kenya coach Sebastien Migne likely to make changes with Francis Kahata’s place in the side in jeopardy.
Tanzania were never expected to get anything out of their opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations and that proved to be the case as they were outclassed by one of the pre-tournament favourites in Senegal.
The Senegalese made light work of the Tanzanians and in truth, the 2-0 scoreline did not really reflect how the game unfolded with Tanzania failing to offer anything in front of goal with them failing to get a single shot on target.
The Taifa Stars coach Emmanuel Amunike has said his side looked nervous in their opening game and the change he made when he took Feisal Salum Abdalla off before the break highlighted that with changes expected as a result.
Head-to-head
A long running rivalry between these two sides with 44 previous meetings. Kenya have won 20, drawn 14 and Tanzania have 14 wins.
Key Opta facts
It will be the first game between Kenya and Tanzania in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kenya have won only seven per cent of their Africa Cup of Nations games (1/15), the worst rate among the teams with at least 15 matches in the competition.
Tanzania are winless in their four games in the Africa Cup of Nations (D1, L3), conceding at least two goals in three of their four outings.
Kenya have failed to score in nine of their last 12 Africa Cup of Nations games (five goals).
Tanzania had three shots against Senegal in on matchday one (none of which were on target). Only Uganda against Egypt in 2017 have had fewer (two) in a single match since Opta began to analyse the competition in 2010.
